Topic: Legitimacy of Government during Popular Uprising
Country: Italy
Delegate Name: Rebecca Michelson
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Italy position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
In the recent uprisings in Tunisia, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Egypt, the question of governmental legitimacy during political turmoil is more important than ever. In a time of popular uprisings when established governments are turned against, whether the people hold the cards or the government should remain a functional structure for the means of the people is critical. Legitimacy of a government is a key question, and should be examined under the lens of the people’s microscope. In order to have legitimate government, Italy believes, the constitution and foundation of power must be built on the people’s needs and desires, and its implementation must respect the human and political rights of its people. Elections stand for true government, as well does the ability for the people to speak up and voice their needs in such an uprising if government is not serving justly.
The Italian Republic finds it necessary that government should be a representative body utilized by the people and for the people. Italy sees that in the case of popular uprisings, it is this body’s duty to ensure that the people are being heard and represented to these ends. As a member of the European Commission, Italy remains an active supporter of the UNDP’s efforts toward the recognition process of government and a leading contributor to the progress being made. The Italian Republic recognizes that the demands made in Egypt and Libya by the people due to a lack of basic freedoms stems from a root failure of government’s role: to serve the people.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that, “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” The Italian Republic strongly backs this fundamental principle, and urges the body to think about the future of government and its legitimacy during popular uprising based on: access to free elections, ability to run for or serve in public office, respect of basic human rights, and the right to peaceful measures of negotiation and cooperation.
Through these core values of the role of government, Italy believes that this body can seek
to determine the necessary process to go about in the event of an uprising, both for a current established government and for an up-and-coming one.
