Corruption has been a feature of governments throughout history, and it remains a problem today. Eliminating-or at least reducing-corruption is an important part of making the political process function on behalf of regular citizens. Accountability and openness, also called transparency, is a key feature of all functioning democracies. The benefits of democracy can be found in every part of the globe. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and its...

Striking a balance between the right of corporations to earn a profit with the rights of the people they employ is a key struggle in any democracy. The challenges are many, from fair and equal pay to workplace safety, and from hiring discrimination to protection from unjust firing. This book explores these issues and the various solutions that have been found by the world's democracies. The benefits of democracy can be found in every part of the globe....

Criminal justice issues-including the use of force by police, fairness in trials and sentencing, and equal treatment of minority groups-are some of the most contentious debates of our time. How do we balance respect the need for safe streets and homes with the need to respect the rights of the accused? Different democracies approach these questions in vastly different ways. The benefits of democracy can be found in every part of the globe. Since the...

The world's first democracy, the United States, was founded in large part as a reaction against religious oppression. So it's no surprise that the protection of rights to religious and cultural beliefs and practices are cornerstones of democratic societies. And yet, even in our heterogeneous world, protections for ethnic and religious minorities can seem fragile at best. The benefits of democracy can be found in every part of the globe. Since the...