In every country around the world, whether it is a city, town, or village; problems occur at one time or another amongst people. These issues result in corruption of a nation, rape, murder, forced labor, torture and many other forms of negative abuse to a human being. Some huge conflicts which had happened in the world for example would be World War One, World War Two, the September 11th attacks, the recent Egyptian revolution, Libya's political crisis and the Afghanistan War just to name a few. These conflicts and wars have been heard in the media constantly whether it was through the radio, internet, television or even cell phones and have been helped by over dozens of countries throughout the world in order to solve the problems.
However, there are many international conflicts which are happening right now since decades with people living in insecurity and the fear of death every single day. To name a couple of unheard international conflicts which are about thousands and thousands of people living in fear everyday due to their governments would be the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, as well as the My Lai massacre which took place in Southern Vietnam killing hundreds of civilians. Well, why does the media not display the atrocities that had happened or is currently still taking place in these countries and why do people not know about these international conflicts which are also very important.
Anyhow, the Democratic Republic of Congo is also another conflict which is taking place currently in Africa with thousands of civilians being killed or raped due to rebel forces and unfortunately - Congo's own army. This conflict has been taking place for decades, however it is not mentioned about so much in the news so much that people around the world would be updated about. On the other hand, Libya has been all over the news on an international level receiving aid internationally from many countries. The violence in Libya is increasing each day ever since Tunisia's and Egypt's revolution against Ben Ali and Egypt's Ex-President Hosni Mubarak. The people of Libya are being treated inequal both socially and economically by Gadhafi and his government. Gadhafi's rebel forces and his supporters are making life for the Libyans very insecure.
Canada - a peacekeeping nation around the world, maintaining well foreign relations with almost all nations worldwide. Canada steps in at every issue trying to help the people of that nation live in peace and equality. However, a country cannot solve all problems together, so if Canada could only adequately resource one foreign policy choice, which conflict should receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment - the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Libya; and should this foreign policy choice be governed by a realist, constructivist, or liberal perspective? In my opinion, I believe the DRC shoud receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment and should be governed by a liberal perspective.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is located in central Africa and is the third-largest country on the African continent. It’s bordered by the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola."
The conflict in the DRC began twelve years ago during the genocide in Rwanda that killed approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The remaining Tutsis and Hutus ended with waves of refugees and genocidaires, fleeing into the Eastern part of Congo in 1994. During the 1994 genocide, President Habyarimana was a Hutu and had been shot while in the place, it was after his assassination that had caused problems between the two groups - the Hutus and Tutsis. After the horrendous 1994 Rwandan Genocide, Uganda and Rwanda took control most of Congo. Militia groups and tribal gangs fought for the nations mineral wealth pretending as if they were protecting the Congolese. As a result of Congo's ongoing conflict, the people have painfully suffered and continue to suffer for decades now.
Displacement, murder, rape, torture, fear and other violence are what the people of Congo fear from and go through each day of their lives. Diseases such as malnutrition and malaria are widespread throughout the country, since the population lacks food, shelter and simple health care. An estimated 3.8 million people have died since the civil war in the DRC in 1998. Majority of deaths are encountered mainly because of diseases such as malaria, measles and malnutrition - not necessarily violence. However, violence continues to occur in the North Kivu province and in parts of the Katanga province. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force had tried many times for reconciliation in Congo, but unfortunately several armed groups still have their eye on populations and regional governments fuel the conflict. As a result, parts of Congo, mostly the North-East, are rendered inaccessible to aid workers.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is the rape capital of the world"
A senior UN official states. According to the United Nations, more than 8,000 women have been raped during the fighting in 2009. In Congo, women have no rights and continue to suffer from sexual violence, and in an article named "The Bleak Calculus of Congo's War Without End" by the Globe and Mail, it states that most of the worst atrocities done to women were commited by Congo's own army. A report by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative showed that 60 percent of rape victims in the province of South Kivu were gang raped by armed men and more than half of the assaults took place in the victims' homes. "Women have no rights, if those who violate their rights go unpunished" stated Ms. Wallstrom of the UN Security Council. Even until today, Congo remains a nation which is torn apart by foreign looters with violence and insecurity throughout the nation.
"I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level" - says Muammar Gadhafi at the Arab League summit, March 2009.
People in Libya are living in fear as Gadhafi's forces may do harm to them. Economic prices such as food have risen very high, medical supplies and fuel are very limited in Libya. Libya's capital - Tripoli has violence happening everyday with the death toll rising daily. As many as 4000 people are fleeing from the violence in Tripoli by crossing the Libya-Tunisia border everyday. It is estimated by the United Nations that 200,000 Libyan refugees fled either to Tunisia or Egypt. At Ras Ejder, a provisional refugee camp was set up with a capacity of 10,000 however this number tripled from 20,000 to 30,000 refugees. The World Health Organization describes this as a "nightmare" warning of the risks of serious epidemics. The International Criminal Court estimates that over 10,000 people in Libya have been killed due to the rising conflicts regarding Gadhafi and his rebels. Presently, the conflict in Libya is still taking place and Gadhafi is still in power of Libya.
As we all know the Democratic Republic of Congo is the main supplier of coltan, which is the key material in the manufacture of mobile telephones and has wealth in minerals such as diamonds, gold and copper which is supplied throughout the world as well, however the bordering nations of Congo have continuing violent conflicts with one another even until today. Over thousands of women and children have been raped and used as pawns during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the 1998 war and also today in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the rebels as well as the DRC's own army in pretense of protection. Millions of civilians live their daily lives in fear from death and torture due to the DRC's situation across the nation.
The United Nations (UN) and the International Court of Justice (ICCJ) have not done too much in order to prevent the current situation. No country had intervened in Congo in order to help, however the United Nations Security Council had stepped in bringing 20,000 peacekeepers to help the situation, but unfortunately people are still dying and violence is still occurring dramatically.
On the other hand, throughout and currently the violence and protests Libya is going through regarding the government, there has been foreign intervention immediately while the protests began, the UN came in action, media around the world had been spreading the news every second, and the Foreign Affairs from a variety of nations had sent airplanes for their citizens in Libya to arrive back to their country safely and sound; whereas in the DRC, millions of people are in desperate need of aid but are not heard by from many as the people in Libya are. Canada has been helping Libya by sending millions of dollars, as well as bringing back their citizens via air planes by the Foreign Affairs Canada. Libya is very rich in oil as it has billions worth of oil in its reserves, which is why it is important for Canada to keep good relations with Libya as it benefits Canada's foreign policy.
In summary, it is extremely necessary for the DRC to receive the majority of Canadian foreign policy commitment as the nation is not heard from very well internationally, and people are helpless suffering from life and death each day of their lives with social, economical, fear, health issues and much more which is affecting the people of the nation very negatively. Now, if the DRC was to be governed by a new government, should the majority of the foreign policy commitment be governed by a realist, constructivist or liberal point of view? In the situation regarding the DRC, it is well for the nation to be governed by a liberal perspective.
"Liberalism is an economic and political doctrine advocating free enterprise, free competition and free will."
Well liberalism is a political theory which believes on the natural goodness of humans and the freedom of an individual, favouring civil and political liberties, governed by law with the consent of the government and protection from arbitrary authority. The DRC is a foreign conflict and for other countries to enter the DRC (such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, etc) should be governed by a liberal perspective because everyone should have their rights to security and freedom, which relates to the governed style of liberalism. Liberalism believes in human rights and care for their social, economical and health issues; the people in Congo are facing massive issues with their human rights which is why it is important for the DRC to be governed from a liberal perspective.
Constructivism is a theory that argues that people generate knowledge and understanding from their experiences and ideas; but this is not a relevant theory for both the situations in Libya and the DRC because people are only experiencing violence and protests, they have corrupt forms of government which is why to govern these two nations from a constructivist perspective would not be ideal. The theory of realism is dominantly used internationally, and it is a theory that believes that there is no real or "high" authority to be guided by.
A realist views and represents things as they really seem. In contrast with the two theories mentioned above, realism is similar to the idea of idealism; being somewhat similar to liberalism. But regarding the issues in the DRC, liberalism is the form of government which would shape the nation in many dimensions.
However, there are many international conflicts which are happening right now since decades with people living in insecurity and the fear of death every single day. To name a couple of unheard international conflicts which are about thousands and thousands of people living in fear everyday due to their governments would be the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, as well as the My Lai massacre which took place in Southern Vietnam killing hundreds of civilians. Well, why does the media not display the atrocities that had happened or is currently still taking place in these countries and why do people not know about these international conflicts which are also very important.Anyhow, the Democratic Republic of Congo is also another conflict which is taking place currently in Africa with thousands of civilians being killed or raped due to rebel forces and unfortunately - Congo's own army. This conflict has been taking place for decades, however it is not mentioned about so much in the news so much that people around the world would be updated about. On the other hand, Libya has been all over the news on an international level receiving aid internationally from many countries. The violence in Libya is increasing each day ever since Tunisia's and Egypt's revolution against Ben Ali and Egypt's Ex-President Hosni Mubarak. The people of Libya are being treated inequal both socially and economically by Gadhafi and his government. Gadhafi's rebel forces and his supporters are making life for the Libyans very insecure.
Canada - a peacekeeping nation around the world, maintaining well foreign relations with almost all nations worldwide. Canada steps in at every issue trying to help the people of that nation live in peace and equality. However, a country cannot solve all problems together, so if Canada could only adequately resource one foreign policy choice, which conflict should receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment - the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Libya; and should this foreign policy choice be governed by a realist, constructivist, or liberal perspective? In my opinion, I believe the DRC shoud receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment and should be governed by a liberal perspective.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is located in central Africa and is the third-largest country on the African continent. It’s bordered by the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola."
The conflict in the DRC began twelve years ago during the genocide in Rwanda that killed approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The remaining Tutsis and Hutus ended with waves of refugees and genocidaires, fleeing into the Eastern part of Congo in 1994. During the 1994 genocide, President Habyarimana was a Hutu and had been shot while in the place, it was after his assassination that had caused problems between the two groups - the Hutus and Tutsis. After the horrendous 1994 Rwandan Genocide, Uganda and Rwanda took control most of Congo. Militia groups and tribal gangs fought for the nations mineral wealth pretending as if they were protecting the Congolese. As a result of Congo's ongoing conflict, the people have painfully suffered and continue to suffer for decades now.Displacement, murder, rape, torture, fear and other violence are what the people of Congo fear from and go through each day of their lives. Diseases such as malnutrition and malaria are widespread throughout the country, since the population lacks food, shelter and simple health care. An estimated 3.8 million people have died since the civil war in the DRC in 1998. Majority of deaths are encountered mainly because of diseases such as malaria, measles and malnutrition - not necessarily violence. However, violence continues to occur in the North Kivu province and in parts of the Katanga province. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force had tried many times for reconciliation in Congo, but unfortunately several armed groups still have their eye on populations and regional governments fuel the conflict. As a result, parts of Congo, mostly the North-East, are rendered inaccessible to aid workers.
According to World Bank and World Development Indicators, the average life expectancy in Canada is at 81.2 years based on a 2009 statistic, whereas in Congo the life expectancy is only at 54 years. There is a huge difference in these numbers, in Congo the life expectancy rate is relatively low due to the lack of basic health care, mental health issues, and of course, the rape and killings of thousands of men and women. People living with HIV/Aids is 1.1 million and the number of physicians is only seven doctors per one hundred thousand people. According to UNICEF reports, a child dies in the DRC almost every two minutes, mostly from preventable causes; and also there are about 30,000 children who have been forced into militias, while untold thousands of girls have been raped.
"The Democratic Republic of Congo is the rape capital of the world"
A senior UN official states. According to the United Nations, more than 8,000 women have been raped during the fighting in 2009. In Congo, women have no rights and continue to suffer from sexual violence, and in an article named "The Bleak Calculus of Congo's War Without End" by the Globe and Mail, it states that most of the worst atrocities done to women were commited by Congo's own army. A report by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative showed that 60 percent of rape victims in the province of South Kivu were gang raped by armed men and more than half of the assaults took place in the victims' homes. "Women have no rights, if those who violate their rights go unpunished" stated Ms. Wallstrom of the UN Security Council. Even until today, Congo remains a nation which is torn apart by foreign looters with violence and insecurity throughout the nation.
The conflict in Libya has been going on in for decades now in the North African state of Libya. This conflict is being fought between the people of Libya who want Muammar Gadhafi to leave government; not being in control of the nation and pro-Gadhafi forces. The 2011 conflict had begun on February 11th, 2011 as soon as the revolutions took place in Tunisia and Egypt, with both Hosni Mubarak and Ben Ali who left power. According to many around the world, Libyans who wanted Gadhafi to leave out of power believed they would win because Egypt and Tunisia had succeeded in their battle; however as of today Gadhafi still remains in control of Libya.
Colonel Muammar Gadhafi had seized power in Libya on September 1st, 1969 after he won the elections. Gadhafi attended military academy in Libya, Greece and the UK. He had wrote a book called "The Green Book" in 1975 in which he proves himself a leading political philosopher, deveoping a theory called the "third universal theory" outlined in his well-known Green Book.
Anyhow, the situation in Libya had began when a series of non-violent protest began on February 15th 2011. Not even a week had passed when the protests had started, and it was all over the media around the world. The uprising conflict spread across Libya, leaving Gadhafi struggling to retain control over his people and nation. According to a CBC article online, it is written that Gadhafi has "vowed to fight to the death". In response to the protests taking place in Libya, Gadhafi responded with military force as well as censorship and blocking of all communications. By the means of blocking communications, there was no way of communicating via Facebook, Twitter and cell phones. Facebook and Twitter especially, are two very popular social communication sites in which may arise more protests and violence throughout the country, therefore all sources of communication was blocked.
The conflict in Libya had than arose into an armed conflict, with the rebels establishing a coalition named the "Transitional National Council based in the North Eastern part of Libya - Benghazi. Muammar Gadhafi and members of his government were warned by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that they may have committed crimes against humanity; also the United Nations Security Concil passed an initial resolution freezing Gadhafi and his ten member's in his inner circle assets as well as restricting their travel. The resolution had also referred the actions of the government to the ICC for investigation. Furthermore, the United Nations resolution authorized member states to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over Libya due to the violent conflicts. Right away, Gadhafi's government announced a ceasefire, however failed to uphold it.
People in Libya are living in fear as Gadhafi's forces may do harm to them. Economic prices such as food have risen very high, medical supplies and fuel are very limited in Libya. Libya's capital - Tripoli has violence happening everyday with the death toll rising daily. As many as 4000 people are fleeing from the violence in Tripoli by crossing the Libya-Tunisia border everyday. It is estimated by the United Nations that 200,000 Libyan refugees fled either to Tunisia or Egypt. At Ras Ejder, a provisional refugee camp was set up with a capacity of 10,000 however this number tripled from 20,000 to 30,000 refugees. The World Health Organization describes this as a "nightmare" warning of the risks of serious epidemics. The International Criminal Court estimates that over 10,000 people in Libya have been killed due to the rising conflicts regarding Gadhafi and his rebels. Presently, the conflict in Libya is still taking place and Gadhafi is still in power of Libya.As we all know the Democratic Republic of Congo is the main supplier of coltan, which is the key material in the manufacture of mobile telephones and has wealth in minerals such as diamonds, gold and copper which is supplied throughout the world as well, however the bordering nations of Congo have continuing violent conflicts with one another even until today. Over thousands of women and children have been raped and used as pawns during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the 1998 war and also today in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the rebels as well as the DRC's own army in pretense of protection. Millions of civilians live their daily lives in fear from death and torture due to the DRC's situation across the nation.
The United Nations (UN) and the International Court of Justice (ICCJ) have not done too much in order to prevent the current situation. No country had intervened in Congo in order to help, however the United Nations Security Council had stepped in bringing 20,000 peacekeepers to help the situation, but unfortunately people are still dying and violence is still occurring dramatically.
On the other hand, throughout and currently the violence and protests Libya is going through regarding the government, there has been foreign intervention immediately while the protests began, the UN came in action, media around the world had been spreading the news every second, and the Foreign Affairs from a variety of nations had sent airplanes for their citizens in Libya to arrive back to their country safely and sound; whereas in the DRC, millions of people are in desperate need of aid but are not heard by from many as the people in Libya are. Canada has been helping Libya by sending millions of dollars, as well as bringing back their citizens via air planes by the Foreign Affairs Canada. Libya is very rich in oil as it has billions worth of oil in its reserves, which is why it is important for Canada to keep good relations with Libya as it benefits Canada's foreign policy.
In summary, it is extremely necessary for the DRC to receive the majority of Canadian foreign policy commitment as the nation is not heard from very well internationally, and people are helpless suffering from life and death each day of their lives with social, economical, fear, health issues and much more which is affecting the people of the nation very negatively. Now, if the DRC was to be governed by a new government, should the majority of the foreign policy commitment be governed by a realist, constructivist or liberal point of view? In the situation regarding the DRC, it is well for the nation to be governed by a liberal perspective.
"Liberalism is an economic and political doctrine advocating free enterprise, free competition and free will."
Well liberalism is a political theory which believes on the natural goodness of humans and the freedom of an individual, favouring civil and political liberties, governed by law with the consent of the government and protection from arbitrary authority. The DRC is a foreign conflict and for other countries to enter the DRC (such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, etc) should be governed by a liberal perspective because everyone should have their rights to security and freedom, which relates to the governed style of liberalism. Liberalism believes in human rights and care for their social, economical and health issues; the people in Congo are facing massive issues with their human rights which is why it is important for the DRC to be governed from a liberal perspective.
Constructivism is a theory that argues that people generate knowledge and understanding from their experiences and ideas; but this is not a relevant theory for both the situations in Libya and the DRC because people are only experiencing violence and protests, they have corrupt forms of government which is why to govern these two nations from a constructivist perspective would not be ideal. The theory of realism is dominantly used internationally, and it is a theory that believes that there is no real or "high" authority to be guided by.
A realist views and represents things as they really seem. In contrast with the two theories mentioned above, realism is similar to the idea of idealism; being somewhat similar to liberalism. But regarding the issues in the DRC, liberalism is the form of government which would shape the nation in many dimensions.
