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World opinion is divided on the importance of having a free press, according to a poll conducted for the BBC World Service. Of those interviewed, 56% thought that freedom of the press was very important to ensure a free society. But 40% said it was more important to maintain social harmony and peace, even if it meant curbing the press's freedom to report news truthfully. Pollsters interviewed 11,344 people in 14 countries for the survey...
2007-12-10
democracy censorship press journalism freedom totalitarian regimeSixty-five percent of citizens across the world do not think their country is governed by the will of the people, a poll commissioned by the BBC suggests. The Gallup International Voice of the People 2005 poll questioned more than 50,000 people in 68 states for the BBC World Service survey about power. Only in Scandinavia and South Africa do the majority believe that they are ruled according to their wishes.
2005-09-14
democracy direct democracy politics opinion publicSince the cold day in February 1979 when the crowds stormed the police and army buildings and the Shah's last forces surrendered, Iran has been through a torrid time: war, terrorism, isolation, confrontation, sanctions. Most people in the West assumed that the Islamic revolution would collapse fast. Even a few months ago, the possibility existed that either Israel or America would soon bomb Iran. There was fresh talk of "regime...
2009-02-10
Iran democracy freedom revolution IslamThe year 1989 reshaped the world. Its news stories - from Tiananmen Square to the fall of the Berlin Wall - are now historical marker posts.
2009-02-10
democracy communism socialism freedom revolution Velvet Revolution Europe capitalismThe victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections has set the rest of the world a dilemma. The Palestinians have chosen Hamas and therefore the democratic choice has to be accepted, especially as spreading democracy in the "Greater Middle East" is the goal of the Bush administration. But Hamas is listed as a terrorist organisation by both the US and the EU and unless the group accepts that Israel should exist, it is hard to see...
2006-01-27
USA terrorism Israel Palestine democracy Hamas electionWe need to think seriously about what digital democracy has to offer.
2009-10-14
e-democracy Internet government democracy politics transparency accountabilityOnline tools can now help citizens curious about what their taxes are being spent on.
2009-12-11
democracy government direct democracy Internet taxWeb-based democracy activists have kicked off the first round of a project to see if MPs keep their promises.
The former leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, has warned Nato that victory in Afghanistan is impossible. Mr Gorbachev said that the US had no alternative but to withdraw its forces if it wanted to avoid another Vietnam.
2010-10-27
NATO Mikhail Gorbachev USSR Russia Afghanistan invasion history democracy victoryWikileaks are like peanuts - absolutely addictive, but in the end curiously unsatisfying. In truth, not much has emerged that had not already been leaked to the media in one form or another by US diplomats, to serve either US agendas or battles over policy in Washington. ... Some of the detail is, however, fascinating, even if it only extends what we knew already.
2010-12-04
WikiLeaks politics democracy journalism USA