"Freedom of expression --in particular, freedom of the press --guarantees popular participation in the dcisions and actions of government, and popular participation is the essence of our democracy."

-- Corazon Aquino


  


The Role of Parliaments in Promoting an Information Rich Society: Introduction

 

Unit 1 Questions

Please answer each of the following questions.  If you are taking this course in a group you may then meet to discuss your answers.

  1. What is the ‘right to know’?
  1. What freedoms are essential preconditions to achieving and sustaining an informed society and why?
  1. How does having an informed and transparent society benefit parliament?
  1. What is the link between open and transparent societies and economic development?
  1. Give an example of how the right to know has helped benefit your own life, or the lives of your constituents.

 

Select Bibliography

Article 19: Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 19: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Halperin, M., Siegle, J., & Weinstein, M. The Democracy Advantage. Routledge; New York, 2005: pp. 46 – 52

Isham, J, Kaufmann, D and Pritchett, L. “Civil Liberties, Democracy, and the Performance of Government Projects.” The World Bank Economic Review 11(2), 1997: pp. 219-242.

 

 

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