SonjaBe.com International Relations – Be Here | Be You | Be True

No government can be perfect, because all governments are composed of humans, especially those humans most attracted by power and profit. Which begs the question, does power attract morally corrupt people or does power morally corrupt people? Nowhere is this question more pertinent than the global bastion of democracy and power – America. Over the past half century, America’s power has waned and she has descended from popular democracy to corporate dictatorship. Read More »

Declared “the most pressing issue of the 21st century” by Nicholas Kristof in his book Half the Sky, gender inequality continues to be a detriment to democracy. No society can function on its highest level without respecting and valuing women’s voices.  It may come as a surprise then, that a country which is perceived as one of the world’s most exemplary democracies, the United States, has a less than impressive number of women in government in comparison to many countries throughout the world. With only 16% of all government positions held by women, the U.S. ranks 69th in women’s representation globally behind countries such as Rwanda, Cuba, Iraq, and Sudan. Read More »

Is gender equality achievable in the shift towards democracy in the Middle East despite the deep-rooted cultural beliefs? This is a daunting yet unavoidable question that hangs over us as we watch the Arab Spring evolve. A year of struggle, devotion, hope, and revolutions has finally given women a chance to break the barriers of fear and speak up. A major shift, a major change, a major opportunity has surfaced for women in the Middle East. From Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere we have witnessed women fighting for change, rights, dignity and opportunity. It has been difficult to miss the powerful presence of women in the revolutions. Their involvement and participation in the public realm has been proven a necessary element of civic society. Read More »