Government CollapseWhat causes

governments to fail?

Governments in Crisis

• Japan• Libya• Bahrain• USA

• Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Japan

• Earthquake• Tsunami• Nuclear Disaster

Governments in Crisis

• Japan• Libya• Bahrain• USA

• Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Middle East: Libya

• In the past week Libyan forces loyal to Qaddafi moved east retaking rebel cities one by one

• By Friday they had begun bombing the rebel “capitol” Benghazi

• On Friday the United Nations announced its plans for a No-Fly Zone

Governments in Crisis

• Japan• Libya• Bahrain• USA

• Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Middle East: Bahrain

• March 12 Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned this tiny kingdom’s ruling family that “baby steps” toward reform would not be enough to meet the political and economic grievances sweeping the region.

• Mr. Gates also cautioned Bahrain’s king and crown prince during two hours of meetings in Manama, Bahrain’s capital, that if the reform process was prolonged, the United States feared that Iran would become involved and create more chaos

Middle East:Bahrain• March 13 Thousands of antigovernment protesters in Bahrain

blocked access to the financial district in Manama, the capital, preventing workers from getting to their offices and pushing back police officers who tried to disperse them.

• It was the most serious challenge to the royal family that rules Bahrain since protests began last month. Witnesses said the police used tear gas and fired on the protesters with rubber bullets.

Middle East: Bahrain

• March 14 Troops crossed from Saudi Arabia into Bahrain to help quell unrest there, a move Bahraini opposition groups denounced as an “occupation,” while pro-government legislators called for the imposition of martial law.

Middle East: Bahrain• March 16 The King’s security forces rolled into Pearl Square, the stronghold of

the antigovernment protest movement, taking it from the protesters who had moved in a month ago.

• Plumes of black smoke choked the central city landscape as troops repeatedly fired tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and what sounded like live ammunition, igniting fires in tents, trees and brush.

• Most of the hundreds in the square fled from the huge display of military might. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Governments in Crisis

• Japan• Libya• Bahrain• USA

• Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

USA- Wisconsin• Wisconsin Senate Democrats said the law, which reduces the

collective bargaining rights of most state employees, is an attack on workers and filed a complaint with the Dane County district attorney, claiming that the Senate's Republican-led vote violated Wisconsin's open meetings law.

USA - Wisconsin

• A Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday halting the state's controversial budget repair law that curbs the union power of most public employees, the Dane County district attorney's office said.

USA-Wisconsin

• This legislation is still working through the legal process. We are confident the provisions of the budget repair bill will become law in the near future," Cullen Werwie, the governor's press secretary, said in a statement.

USA - Wisconsin

• Judge Sumi invoked a colorful analogy in her written decision, saying the legislators' failure to provide timely notice prior to the meeting wasn't a minor detail.

• "Those few of you who may have seen the Super Bowl know that there was a much-photographed guy with a cheesehead, and it said 'owner' on it," she wrote. "And of course, we all know what that refers to, the fact that the Green Bay Packers are publicly owned. It's a heartwarming moment to see that, but in fact, it states that we in Wisconsin own our government. We own it. And we own it in three ways.

USA - Wisconsin

• "We own it by the vote. We own it by the duty to provide open and public access to records, so that the activities of government can be monitored. And we own it in that we are entitled by law to free and open access to government meetings, and especially governmental meetings that lead to the resolution of very highly conflicted and controversial matters," Sumi wrote.

USA - Wisconsin

• "In Wisconsin, we have a democracy, and rules need to be followed. No one is above the law, including Scott Walker," Bloomingdale said. "This is definitely a move in the right direction for working people in Wisconsin to uphold worker rights and also to uphold democracy in Wisconsin and America."

Effects of Crisis Situations on Governments

• Name some crisis situations a government might face

• What two options does a government have to respond to a crisis?– Top Down – Control them, use force– Bottom Up – Listen to them, use their ideas

• Based on what you have seen and what you experienced as leaders of your own countries, which response is better?

Crisis SituationsIssues/Problems Government Result

Egypt

Libya

Bahrain

Wisconsin USA

Japan

Your Country

The Government Debate

In 60 seconds, list as many synonyms as you can

Top-Down Bottom-Up

The Government Debate

• Governments need to balance CONTROL with FREEDOM in order to maintain their position in society

• How does the United States define that issue?

The Preamble

• We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America