Development of a Sustainable Democracy in East Germany and Poland
Linz and Stepan list and describe a set of five elements that
determine a consolidated democracy. Civil society, political
society, rule of law, usable state of bureaucracy, and an
institution of economic society all interact in complex ways to
bring about democratic consolidation in countries. This paper
focuses and emphasizes the interactions between the
^development of a free and lively civil society . . . [and] an
institutionalized economic society . . . [which] must be
present, or be crafted, in order for a democracy to be
consolidated^ (Linz and Stepan pg. 17). Two former communist
countries, East Germany and Poland, will be analyzed and
critiqued about the prospects for sustainable democracy.
Specifically, an analysis of the civil societies in the
countries and how they react to their current economic
situations will be used as a determinant for their chances of
sustaining democracy. Both East Germany and Poland are
considered success stories. Both countries have undergone free
elections that have brought about new leaders in the country that have
represented the citizens needs and wants, but the transition for these
countries hasn^t been easy. Many citizens in both of the former Soviet
bloc countries feel that their votes aren^t changing the social and
economic conditions, and are rejecting the system with this ^learned
helplessness^. An increasing number of citizens in both countries are
turning to right wing policies as a result of the new and challenging
social and economic order. Where before workers were guaranteed jobs,
allowances, and other provisions from the state, now they face the
cutthroat competition that defines capitalism. The economic societies
in the countries have been approached from very different angles.
Whereas East Germany was immediately incorporated into the strong
economic and social conditions of West Germany, Poland was forced to
handle the transition alone. While in East Germany labor and
initiative collapsed and flowed West, Poland had no where to go, and
the capitalist West flowed into their economy in the form of
investments. The result has been very positive for Poland, which is
now one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, but very negative
for East Germany which is dawdling in high unemployment and low foreign
investment. In societies where the party aspired to control all
aspects of life, including persecution for unauthorized association,
social life was very weak. Martial law and danger of persecution for
unauthorized activities encouraged citizens in both countries to
restrict their social ties to kin and very close friends. The result
of this phenomenon has had a profound effect on the quality of civil
“like the goose who points the V, and he temporarily wavered and lost his courage” (25).
These international economic institutions should possess substantial transparency considering their policies directly affect the public. Instead, the IMF and similar institutions have no accountability to the public of which it is supposed to serve. Through lack of transparency, countries with major influence in the IMF such as the U.S. can indirectly impose its own investment agenda upon the country in crisis. If actions of the IMF were directed through a democratic process, more logical and productive policies would develop. If the IMF promotes transparency through the policies it imposes on developing countries, it should set an example through its own governance.
in 1838. Then in 1932, the first successful fuel cells were engineered by Francis Thomas Bacon
Ethiopia gets imf loan to cope with global recession. (2009, August 29). Retrieved from http://www.allvoices.com/s/event-4029802/aHR0cDovL3N1ZGFudHJpYnVuZS5jb20vc3BpcC5waHA/YXJ0aWNsZTMyMjcx
Nevertheless, the problem with the IMF is that they come to the table when the damage is already so far gone that they require such drastic cuts to everything, ensuring that the public cannot sustain its way of living, thereby turning on the government that is trying to fix the problem, who as a result, cuts back on the austerity measures. In Greece’s case, the IMF only added to the debt, each time failing to ignite the Greek economy and in this circumstance, exacerbated the situation. The lack of integrity in hiding their true debt, the Greek government didn’t help matters, as well as national pride of both the Greeks and the Germans, borrower and lender. This tragic saga with the dueling prides, caused the IMF to change its lending rules. “If private creditors are simply paid off with IMF money, there is less incentive for a country to pursue reforms needed to improve its debt profile” (Matthew heller, 2016). In other words, they learned a lesson: lending to a state that doesn’t have control over its currency isn’t always the best course of
The IMF plays a pivotal role in the international economy system. As its initial goal about reconstructs world’s international payment system, such as contributes to surveillance of the global economy, to stabilize exchange rates, to lend money to help countries to resolve emergency situation but with certain conditions and should pay back in a short time. The IMF has done a large number of things to help the world economy, not only in the western countries, but in many developing countries as well.
First of all, bystanders must take action because bullying has many harmful consequences to the individual. Moreover, children become more depressing and anxious and their feelings of sadness and loneliness are increased as they withdraw from family and school activities. Moreover, bullied kids developing changes in sleep and eating patterns because bullying mak...
The International Monetary Fund is to prevent economic problems from turning into global ones. If any country has issues, the IMF will offer loans and advice in, but of course this comes with a price. In exchange for money, they would want to change certain policies, in an attempt to stop...
The IMF was not designed to be an aid agency but its role in economic
The world is searching for alternative ways to reduce dependability of petroleum base fuel. Environment, public health is considered as an important aspect of searching alternative fuel.. California state has already introduced some hydrogen fuel vehicle on the road. The fuel cell vehicle is considered as a zero emission vehicle. It creates only water as a byproduct, therefore no concern about emission relate gas that is harmful for the surroundings. Hydrogen is also regarded as a renewable energy source because it produces water, this water could be potential source of hydrogen gas. Fuel cells could be future generation fuel for the high tech modern vehicle.
The IMF was created at the end of WWII in order to create a framework for global economic cooperation without creating a second Great Depression. Since its creation it has evolved to tackle a variety of economic issues. The goal of the IMF is to help the governments of member countries “take advantage of the opportunities- and manage the challenges- posed by globalization and economic development more generally.” It tracks global economic trends and performance, alerts member countries of potential problems, provides of forum to discuss policy, and helps governments in times of economic hardship. It provides policy advice and financing to member countries suffering from economic adversity. Additionally, it aims to create...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) works to foster economic growth and economic stability, which is an association that mainly creates the stability in exchange rates and offers temporary loans for the state members in order to tackle their balance of payment problems. Beside, the members contribute their national currencies to the IMF pool for providing loans to deficit countries. In addition, the IMF article of agreement has emphasized that the members had to peg their currencies to gold or US dollars. The IMF utilizes its gold holdings to acquire dollars and other currencies for its operations. The capital of the IMF consists of the aggregate of the quotas allotted to the member countries member can pay its quota in its national currency. Therefore, the developed countries (DC) hold the significant powers in IMF.
The basic mission of IMF is to help and ensure stability in the international system. It does its job in three ways: keeping track of the global economy and the economies of member countries: lending to countries with balance of payments difficulties: and practical he...
The beginning of Islam all started in Arabia around 570 C.E. when a prophet was born. This prophet was known as Muhammad, although it is said that he has multiple names, which was born in a city called Makkah, or Mecca. This man lived a normal life by getting married and having children. He would venture out into the desert every now and then to pray and fast. It was during one time in the desert within a cave that an archangel known as Gabriel approached him. It is at this time that Gabriel gave Muhammad the first verses of the revelation. This would continue on for years up until Muhammad’s death. All of the verses that he was provided would eventually end up into the sacred text known as the Qur’an, or Koran. During Muhammad’s time of receiving the messages from God, his tribe wanted him dead as they did not want to change their way of living. Before his own tribe killed him, he was invited to travel to a city known as Yathrib to be their ruler, which this city would later be called Madinah. Muhammad and his followers set out for this particular city around June 622, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Many critics and even followers of the IMF do not even know what the IMF really is. It is not a development or even a central bank. It is a credit union. It pays interests on deposits it receives from member nations. The IMF lends money to members having trouble meeting financial obligations to other members, but only the condition that they undertake economics reforms to eliminate these difficulties for their own good and that of the entire membership. Some people believe that if the IMF tells a country to do something, they must do it. This statement is false. The IMF has no authority over the domestic economic policies of its members. The IMF is a cooperative institution that 182 countries voluntarily joined because they see the advantage of consulting with one another to maintain a stable system of buying and selling their currencies.