Democracy In The Netherlands

950 Words4 Pages
The Netherlands, a country in northwest Europe, has been a parliamentary democracy since 1848, after it experienced a revolution. The Netherlands also has a constitutional monarchy, like the United Kingdom. The country has a very long history in being modern and forward thinking in economics, politics and social issues. The Netherlands has a very promising future towards consolidating democracy within the country. The Netherlands gained their independence in 1848 during a period of history that produced a wave of revolutions. The movement started in France, and after the French Revolution of 1848 many other countries gained their independence. Although many of the revolutions were put down, The Netherlands was one of the countries that emerged with a new form of government. At the time of the development of the parliamentary system in the country, many other countries were experiencing the same rebirth which made it easy for democracy to grow. One of the ten conditions of building a democracy includes a "favorable international environment". Because of the outspread political unrest throughout Europe, it was easier for the country to revolutionize. The Netherlands is a also frequent player in international affairs and relations. The country was a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), World Trade Organization (WTO), and The European Union (EU). There are five international courts are located within The Netherlands: the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The city "The Hague" is the unofficial legal capital of the world and is the de facto seat for the United Nations. Quickly after the founding of democracy in the country, The Netherlands quickly became a leading power in international relations. In order for a democracy to
Open Document