Topic: Promoting Peaceful Post-Election Transitions
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Philip Bernstein
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Japan position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Japan believes that the United Nations must be prepared to offer aid and to ensure the peaceful transfer of power after free and fair elections. Too often, have irresponsible and corrupt politicians manipulated elections by refusing to recognize valid votes and restricting voting rights. Too often, have elections decided against the ruling party only for the rightful leaders to be denied power transitions. The purpose of elections is to ensure that the people of a country determine how the government operates. Every nation must understand then, that whether they call themselves a democracy or not, the world will not view them as democracies unless they show that the people’s will is indeed the primary determinant of the government. The people and the leaders of a nation must understand that regardless of the election’s outcome, the majority’s will has been upheld and that rebellion only serves to inhibit the progress of the nation.
Japan believes that the United Nations should address any anticipated difficulties with the post-election processes in several ways: the UN must keep watch over the entire electoral process, and the UN must, if necessary, install peacekeeping troops in the area of the disputed election. In addition, the UN must devote special attention to governments in transition from one governing party to another. The UN should provide special measures to keep these politicians safe, as they are a likely target for politically-motivated assassinations.
The UN must also hold direct dialogues with the people of a nation whose election has been disputed. It is not sufficient to convince the leaders of a nation to relinquish their power when the majority’s will dictates it. The common people have an uncommon ability to organize, and if there are any dissenters who would resist the new government, then they must be convinced of the advantages offered to them by a government that the people hold accountable.
A government that rules with a mandate after free and fair elections is more likely to be trusted by the global community. Conversely, governments that rise to power under tumultuous circumstances are likely to be viewed as invalid and untrustworthy, especially if the ruling party remains in power. Cuba is an example of the effects of contestable elections. The Castros remain in power after many elections; yet, the circumstances under which the Castros rose to power are speculative, and the government is now viewed with apprehensive speculation by the worlds.
The UN must have an active role in power transitions after free and fair elections. The consequences of chaotic election transitions can be catastrophic; a lack of a stable government in which the people can trust, politically motivated violence within a country, mistrust from the world community, and civil war are all realistic consequences of contested power transitions. These, in turn, create much larger difficulties for the country and the world than simply allowing power to be transferred in due course, in accordance with the will of the people.
