The Rights of Spring--Principle Over Pragmatism in Human Rights

Adonis E. Hoffman. "The Rights of Spring--Principle Over Pragmatism in Human Rights." World in View, Journal of International Affairs 11.2 (2011): 21-24.

As the first Internet president, Obama has chided other governments for media censorship and restricting access to the Internet. Many countries have erected roadblocks to online information, including China,Saudi Arabia,Vietnam,Russia,Iran,Thailand,Burma, Morocco, U.A.E. and many African nations. North Korea is worst with a total information blocade. But the President should require more from those governments with whom we share strategic and economic interests. Neither China nor Saudi Arabia is democratic, but their censorship of online information is as troubling as the absence of elections or political parties. As proved in Tunisia and Egypt, plebian access to independent information can compensate for a stunted civil society. While there are no notable democratic institutions in China or Saudi Arabia, millions of citizens yearn to surf the web freely. Depriving them of information is only marginally better than physical starvation or torture.

» View this publication

» More publications by Adonis E Hoffman