BREAK THE CHAINS OF OPPRESION AND THE YOKE OF ...

DEMoc rAcy Naturally, in many cases this cooperation is fragmentary and those in power in
these organisations greatly influence the politics of the organisations. But the
fact that it has, for example, finally proved possible to put the issue of a (further
developed) of Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) on the agenda of the IMF – a
great success for the emancipatory forces in civil societies that have been pursuing
this and spreading information about it for years. 16
Sometimes, experience teaches, international organisations do move after all!
For, the more international organisations impinge on the freedoms of individuals,
the sooner questions on their legitimacy arises. International organisations
may, for example, see themselves as the champions of peace, freedom and welfare.
With an high intention for good governance but in the absence of democratic
procedures like those in the traditional nation state they are worse controlled
when they exercise power than democratic states under the rule of law.
The UN Security Council published a list of suspected terrorists who are prohibited
from using any of their assets. However he UN does not provide any control
through courts.
The constitutionalisation of the Law of Nations is most certainly the goal to
strive for and it is absolutely necessary. The individual should be defined as being
the subject of the Law of Nations, structures of legitimation should be created –
for example, at the level of the UN – and the development of a common concept
of public welfare is absolutely necessary. These latter three are the basic preconditions
if we are to give a “constitutional character” 17 to the Law of Nations.
However, constitutionalisation is not yet democratization. When individual personal
rights are codified under the Law of Nations, and the actions of governments
are increasingly bound to rules which hold good even when it goes against
the will of a government, � �this means � that democratic � �politics
will be made possible
for the first time.
Hence, we are not standing here at the beginning; strictly speaking we are a step
ahead of it.
16 According to IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the IMF will look into the issue
of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). In a speech in London on 23 November 2009
he said:
16 "... we have been asked by the G-20 to look into financial sector taxes. This is an interes ting
issue. Can the tax system help reduce excessive risk-taking in the financial sector? Can it be
used to further the legitimate goals of fairness and equity in this area? There are a number of
ways to think about this, and we will look at it from various angles and consider all propo -
sals. Let me say that the financial sector should contribute to the cost of the rescue and to
limi ting recourse to public financing in the event of a future crisis. I suggest this for practical
reasons because, in my view, there would not be political support in parliaments for a rescue
on the scale we have seen during this crisis." (Online: http://www.imf.org/external/
np/speeches/2009/112309.htm. Accessed on Sept. 2009.)
17 Christoph Möller, Der vermisste Leviathan, Frankfurt, Suhrkamp, 2008, p. 109.
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– DEMOCRACY – A MATTER OF CHOICE!? –