Poverty and politics
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Corruption Dictatorships are often corrupt as dictators need friends around them who they can trust to keep them in power. Cash to buy fine cars, food and houses usually keeps people loyal as they become used to a life of luxury. But this is the country’s money which should be used for the benefit of all the people such as by supplying clean water to all areas. Palaces instead of schools are a sign of a corrupt regime and corrupt practices as shown in Figure 4.4.
Figure 4.4 Corrupt exchange of money
The quest for freedoms and accountability for government In dictatorships, people do not choose who they Definition want to represent their views in government and the Corruption: willingness to act authority of the regime is therefore not regarded as dishonestly for personal gain legitimate. There are no political debates as to how the country should be run. If people express an opinion that goes against the wishes of the dictator, they are likely to be gunned down in the streets or disappear. So change is very difficult to bring about but the struggle for freedom continues. This time it is not freedom from a colonial power but freedom from an autocratic regime.
Definition Autocratic: a system of government with one person having complete power
In 2011, there were many uprisings in Africa and the Middle East as people in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya wanted the freedoms that they saw that citizens had in other countries. They wanted to have a say in how the country’s resources were used and its wealth distributed. In other words, they wanted to become a democracy. Tunisia People took to the streets in December 2010 to show their concern over poor living conditions, high levels of unemployment and lack of human rights. Demonstrators risked the army opening fire on them to quell the uprising against their leader. An Ancient Greek historian said ‘The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.’ This show of opposition to the government by the Tunisian people was broadcast over the internet to all parts of the world. Pressure from world leaders persuaded President Ben Ali to leave before the people had to resort to violence to achieve their aim. The transition to democracy was relatively peaceful. Libya In some countries, the dictator will fight his own people to stay in power. Protests against Colonel Gaddafi’s regime in Libya in 2011 led to a civil war which lasted five months.