I haven’t read that treaty but it’s a very interesting and relevant point! It’s true that the British colonial rule has created the foundations for democracy, but only in the areas they inhabited for long enough to put in a basic infrastructure and try to enforce the rule of law. It’s definitely fascinating to see that even colonial rule…perhaps even had positive effects. Who knows if those countries would have democratized otherwise?

Thanks again for thought provoking comments!

I haven’t read that treaty but it’s a very interesting and relevant point! It’s true that the British colonial rule has created the foundations for democracy, but only in the areas they inhabited for long enough to put in a basic infrastructure and try to enforce the rule of law. It’s definitely fascinating to see that even colonial rule…perhaps even had positive effects. Who knows if those countries would have democratized otherwise?

Thanks again for thought provoking comments!

It’s also interesting to think what is lost when a country agrees to ‘colonial’ (for want of a better word) rule: I’m not sure if you’ve read about the Treaty of Waitangi (in 1840), but it involved NZ Maoris agreeing to terms drafted up by the British Empire. The problem was the various terms in English had no equivalent meaning in Maori so they didn’t realise they were signing their land over. Not directly relevant, but I think the historical idea of rule and regime is interesting, and I think that the British Empire created the basis for many of the democracies around the world today.

That’s okay! I like to read your posts. Politics doesn’t normally interest me, but I like your blogs. I can’t say I’ll always have an opinion to put forward though, as some of it is beyond my knowledge. And yes, feel free to ask me about books! Though I don’t know what you like, so suggest some things and I’ll try to think of similar books. I tend to stick with pulp fiction really since university demands fairly heavy reading as it is.

Keep writing!

It’s also interesting to think what is lost when a country agrees to ‘colonial’ (for want of a better word) rule: I’m not sure if you’ve read about the Treaty of Waitangi (in 1840), but it involved NZ Maoris agreeing to terms drafted up by the British Empire. The problem was the various terms in English had no equivalent meaning in Maori so they didn’t realise they were signing their land over. Not directly relevant, but I think the historical idea of rule and regime is interesting, and I think that the British Empire created the basis for many of the democracies around the world today.

That’s okay! I like to read your posts. Politics doesn’t normally interest me, but I like your blogs. I can’t say I’ll always have an opinion to put forward though, as some of it is beyond my knowledge. And yes, feel free to ask me about books! Though I don’t know what you like, so suggest some things and I’ll try to think of similar books. I tend to stick with pulp fiction really since university demands fairly heavy reading as it is.

Keep writing!

I guess my main point here was that it’s dangerous to simply think about ‘democracy’ as a good thing, because the danger lies when the Western world assumes it is the superior ideology and should be ‘exported’ to the rest of the world….regardless of whether they like it or not. It’s that Western idea of superiority that has created a lot of suffering in the world, and democracy is something people assume is inherently good. My point is that there are dangers with the West automatically asserting its superiority…by forcing democracy on others.

Anyways sorry if I confused you even further..

I guess my main point here was that it’s dangerous to simply think about ‘democracy’ as a good thing, because the danger lies when the Western world assumes it is the superior ideology and should be ‘exported’ to the rest of the world….regardless of whether they like it or not. It’s that Western idea of superiority that has created a lot of suffering in the world, and democracy is something people assume is inherently good. My point is that there are dangers with the West automatically asserting its superiority…by forcing democracy on others.

Anyways sorry if I confused you even further..

I believe there is also a book written by one of your very own lecturers – is it M Madras? – on the problems of state rule in Russia. Again, not quite what you were talking about, but another view of political regime in the ‘civilised’ world.