Kryachkov 2!indd

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Д. А. Крячков
UNIT V
In its annual report Freedom House, noted that “Freedom and democracy made significant 
worldwide program in 2002 despite threats posted by global terrorism.” The report noted that “29 
countries demonstrated forward progress in freedom, a dramatic increased from one year ago,” 
cited Brazil, Lesotho, Senegal, and Yugoslavia, has having “entered the ranks of free countries.” 
Even in Muslim and Arab nations, Freedom House found progress in Bahrain, calling it partly 
free, while noting “civic ferment in Iran and Kuwait” as well as progress in Qatar. Progress was 
noted in Afghanistan, Albania, Comoros, Tajikistan, and Turkey. 
These days, Freedom House considers 89 countries to be well on the path to democracy and 
freedom, up from 43 in 1972. I cited this because I believe there is a worldwide undercurrent, a 
demand from ordinary people, for greater freedom. This is why 56 countries are now considered 
partly free, an increase from 38 in 1972. 
There are, however, 47 countries that Freedom House designates as not free, a sharp decline 
from 69 in 1972. These are nations in which basic political rights and civil liberties. Not surprisingly, 
almost 60 percent of those denied such rights and liberties, 2.2 billion people, live in the People’s 
Republic of China. 
As always, since its inception at the beginning of the last century, Communism remains the 
primary threat to democracy and freedom. The other area of the world that remains mired in 
despotism is the Middle East. And as the US sets about changing that, it is being opposed by the 
other hotbed of Socialism, the European Union. It is the EU that has been one of the major finan-
cial supporters of the Palestinians in their ceaseless efforts to destroy Israel. It comes as no surprise 
that most of the Eastern bloc nations of the EU have lined up to support the US agenda for Iraq 
because they have fresh memories of Soviet domination. 
So, a new world order is emerging and it is not one envisioned by the One World advocates 
who would put the United Nations in charge of the planet. It is a world divided between democra-
cy and despotism. As the UN and NATO slip into irrelevance and eventual dissolution, it has fallen 
to the United States to champion real freedom, real democracy. The spread of global communica-
tions, travel, and business will continue to enhance this effort. 
If we remain determined to shape a new and better world of separate, sovereign nations, this 
new century will be a happier one.