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THE FIVE FREEDOM FRAMEWORK POLITICAL FREEDOMS  FIVE FREEDOMS DIAGRAM AND DISCUSSION FIVE FREEDOM DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (pdf) POLITICAL FREEDOMS. The free opportunities citizens have to determine who should govern them and on what principles. Enshrined in this opportunity is the right to evaluate and criticise authorities, to a free press as well as freedom of expression and participation in the political process. During the 20th century, various forms of undemocratic governments have behaved in brutal ways that have severely damaged the prospects of development in their countries. Abuses of human rights (in Myanmar for instance) have placed significant constraints on human freedom and hence human development. But despite the presence of these autocratic regimes, significant progress has been made at a global level. The UN informs us of this progress: while in 1975 only 33 countries had ratified the 'International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'; this figure had risen to 144 by 2000. In 1900 no country had universal suffrage while today almost all countries have it. Between 1974 and 1999, multiparty election systems had been introduced in 113 more countries and today only about 40 countries do not have multiparty electoral systems. Political freedom is not just a macro level concern. It presumes the need of a democratic representative system, one that works upward from the grass root community micro level, where collectives do not inhibit voting patterns. Political Freedoms
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