Increase/Decrease of individual and democratic rights and freedoms

Increase/Decrease of individual and democratic rights and freedoms

This force could obviously move in one of two directions:

1) Towards more democratic and individual rights and freedoms

2) Toward less democratic and individual rights and freedoms

Essentially, this force would act along an axis where the two directions above would define the two extremes of the axis.

One extreme of the axis is defined by: greater individual freedom and freedom of expression, and greater democratic freedom and participation.

Scenarios at this extreme of the axis will exhibit:

Utilization of natural resources for the benefit of the population

because democratic representation and freedom of expression enables citizens to have a say in where revenues go

Innovation

because individual freedoms and freedom of expression will enable more collaboration and sharing of ideas

Recognition of minority views

because minorities will have the freedom to express their views and to support those views with votes

Political dissent

because dissenters will have the freedom to express their views

Greater difficulty reaching consensus, more public deliberation and therefore relatively slow implementation of national policies

a greater variety of views, and greater recognition of minority views will inevitably make it more difficult to reach consensus e.g. greater difficulty in implementing difficult/controversial/unpopular policies

Emphasis of public benefit relative to national strategic interest

national strategic interest is prioritized by politicians and the military the public benefit is prioritized by average citizens greater individual freedom and democratic participation will enable average citizens to express and vote for their priorities e.g. less effectiveness in leveraging resources for national strategic interest; greater use of natural resources for public benefit

The other extreme of the axis defined by: lack of individual freedom, non-democratic, less democratic participation, censorship

Scenarios at this end of the axis will exhibit:

Utilization of natural resources for the benefit of the an elite

because lack of democratic representation and freedom of expression enables political and business elites to exercise greater control over revenues

Less innovation

Lack of individual freedoms and freedom of expression will inhibit collaboration and sharing of ideas

Less recognition of minority views

because minorities will lack the freedom to express their views and to support those views with votes

Less toleration of dissent

because dissenters will have the freedom to express their views

Greater ease in reaching consensus

Since fewer views are expressed or enforced by votes, consensus is easily reached by those in power

Less public deliberation and therefore relatively quick implementation of national policies

a smaller variety of views, and less recognition of minority views will inevitably make it easier to reach consensus from among a narrower range of options

e.g. greater ease in implementing difficult/controversial/unpopular policies

Emphasis of national strategic interest relative to public benefit

national strategic interest is prioritized by politicians and the military the public benefit is prioritized by average citizens less individual freedom and democratic participation will enable politicians and the military to implement policies in line with their own priorities e.g. greater effectiveness in leveraging resources for national strategic interest; less use of natural resources for public benefit