03-02-2004, 15:56
Does the UN have the right to say what a NationState can and cannot tell its own people?
Certainly, there is the allowance for governments and nations where the people will hear exactly what the government wants them to hear. Can the UN try to legislate otherwise and impose its will in there?
To illustrate my discussion:
Take a Psychotic Dictatorship where the media is run by the dictator (generically referred to as "he"). The dictator slaughters a few thousand people and doesnt particularly want everyone in the nation to hear about it, so he doesnt get it aired...
Can the UN control this flow of information? We might say "yes, this is a human rights issue"
Second Illustration:
Same dictator goes ahead and falsifies employment rates data or some similar internal statistic. The people hear only what he puts on the radio...
Can the UN control this flow of information? Well, it's purely internal information... no one dies... what do you think?
Third and Final Illustration:
Dictator's government is forced (due to overzealous UN) to hold an election. He holds the election with whatever restrictions are on it (like equal time or whatever)... but he still makes it so that everyone sees the country as if it were perfect and spotless through the national news and whatnot.
Does the UN get to control this flow too? Again, this is purely internal and not a matter of international politics or relations (beyond the new/old leader)
The question boils down to: Can the UN actually try to legislate about how we NationStates run our own communications? (we're not all nationally-controlled media after all... but we still make decisions on it...)
Certainly, there is the allowance for governments and nations where the people will hear exactly what the government wants them to hear. Can the UN try to legislate otherwise and impose its will in there?
To illustrate my discussion:
Take a Psychotic Dictatorship where the media is run by the dictator (generically referred to as "he"). The dictator slaughters a few thousand people and doesnt particularly want everyone in the nation to hear about it, so he doesnt get it aired...
Can the UN control this flow of information? We might say "yes, this is a human rights issue"
Second Illustration:
Same dictator goes ahead and falsifies employment rates data or some similar internal statistic. The people hear only what he puts on the radio...
Can the UN control this flow of information? Well, it's purely internal information... no one dies... what do you think?
Third and Final Illustration:
Dictator's government is forced (due to overzealous UN) to hold an election. He holds the election with whatever restrictions are on it (like equal time or whatever)... but he still makes it so that everyone sees the country as if it were perfect and spotless through the national news and whatnot.
Does the UN get to control this flow too? Again, this is purely internal and not a matter of international politics or relations (beyond the new/old leader)
The question boils down to: Can the UN actually try to legislate about how we NationStates run our own communications? (we're not all nationally-controlled media after all... but we still make decisions on it...)