Top 10 List | Top Ten Lists

Most of the groups/corporations listed in this top 10 list have a very poor track record and tend to be infamous for their exploitation of government powers. These corporations/groups have multi-billion dollar annual profits, enabling them to get away with the worst of crimes – especially in the case of Mexico and Drug Cartel warlord. The only way to fight the corruption of these companies is to boycott them and to put pressure on our governments to intervene.

1. Egypt and the army

How powerful is the Egyptian army? Did you also know the sky is blue? Well the Egyptian army is one of the most powerful military forces in the world, but it also has another surprising function: They are one of the biggest corporations functioning in Egypt. You see, during the Egyptian revolution of 1952, the army started quickly expanding. They hired thousands of soldiers, bought heaps of equipment, constructed new military bases, and basically poured all their monetary resources into the army. After the revolution, the government had two options. 1: Fire all the surplus soldiers and flood the job market with uneducated and untrained youths, possibly causing a recession and/or another revolution when these people who only know how to be soldiers cannot get jobs, or 2: Keep pouring vast sums of amount of money into the army for no discernible purpose. And since, they couldn’t just go invade some Middle Eastern nation for fear of losing; the government came up with an idea: Keep them all on as soldiers and just use them to build things! That’s why today somewhere between 33-45% of the Egyptian economy is run by the army. The army manufactures TVs, refrigerators, bottled water, washing machines, and that is just a few this top 10 list mentions.

You may remember during the latest Egyptian revolution that the army was “refusing” to open fire on protesters. Or maybe you saw the pictures that dispersed on the internet of soldiers and protesters standing around talking to each other and not doing what Mubarak wanted them to. It was a tear jerking scene to be sure. But… did you ever wonder why the army refused to get rid of the protesters? It was because they were afraid of losing their customers. In fact the army forced Mubarak to step down because the protests were making them lose money. And don’t think the revolution changed that. If anything, the armies seized even more power.

Quote: “ So far, the Egyptian military has largely sided with the protesters in the streets of Cairo.   This is not only because the military supports the people; it’s also because the military sells the people lots of stuff.”

2. Russia and Gazprom

If you are from Eastern Europe, you will almost certainly make out the word Gazprom. They are Russian exporters of natural gas, notably to European countries. What you have not heard is that this company single-handedly funds the entire Russian government and is the sole reason Putin is still the most powerful person in the country. Gazproms extravagant spending sprees (on government orders) are pushing the Russian economy forward.

They also use their substantial clout to damage and distort nearby governments into paying way more for fuel. This is most evident in Ukraine where the government pays triple the price for fuel from them, and owes Gazprom so much money that there are fears they are becoming Russia’s satellite state, refusing to say no to Gazprom and by extension Russia if they ever start asking to get paid.

If this trend continues in Russia, Putin will lose all of his power that he has wielded for years. 2014 appears to be the year things will be going down, according to current trends. God only knows what will happen then (smart moneys on China-style communism).

Quotes:

“Under Putin’s control, Gazprom has been a principal driver of the rest of the Russian economy, generously spreading rewards and high-paying contracts to Kremlin favorites. It employs nearly half a million people, working in cities and towns in every region of Russia.”

“He [Putin] has wielded Gazprom as a blunt weapon against Ukraine, where corruption has provided the company with rich opportunities to assert influence and to manipulate huge amounts of cash. Ukraine’s large storage facilities and its role as a transit nation through which most of Gazprom’s exports flow have given rise to layers upon layers of middlemen who take their cut. The country itself is Gazprom’s biggest foreign buyer and pays a higher price than any other customer. Ukraine’s debt to Gazprom is growing so large that politicians and analysts worry the country will be drawn tightly into Russia’s orbit”.

3. Mexico and the Teacher’s Union

You’ve probably heard that the American teachers union is a way too powerful organization that shields bad teachers from being fired and demanding extra benefits. However they are nowhere near as bad as the Mexican teachers union which is the single biggest union in the entire country. They have a president who through a lifetime of work for the union has collected a huge amount of moneys, mansions in Mexico city, owns a private jet, and wears clothing that would make Paris Hilton sincerely envious. And since she has such control over the political system (she controls nearly 1.2 million votes) trying to stop her is basically a “political suicide”. And the government goes to the limits to make sure their teachers don’t get fired. There are over a 100,000 teachers in Mexico who are getting the big bucks despite not going near a school in years.

The worst moment in history: Mexican drug cartel leader “La Tuta” Fomez who has a warrant out for his arrest and a multimillion dollar bounty on his head for information leading to his arrest, still receives cheques from the Mexican government because he was a teacher 15 years ago. That’s how impossible it is to fire a teacher in Mexico! You can be a drug dealer, who hasn’t shown up for work in 15 years and have a multimillion dollar bounty on your head and Mexico cannot and will not fire you.

Quote:

“The extent of Ms Gordillo’s political power has recently been revealed in more detail. Last week La Maestra confirmed the long-circulating rumour that before the 2006 election she made a “political arrangement” with Felipe Calderón, now the president, that she would back his candidacy in return for his agreement to appoint allies of hers to posts in the government. Mr Calderón, who won by the narrowest of margins, duly obliged, appointing Miguel Ángel Yunes to head the ISSSTE, the social security agency that deals with public sector workers, including teachers.”

4. South Africa and DeBeers

Social conservatives are often criticized for being more concerned by the actions of corporations which transgress doctrinal Christian no-nos, and support abortion or homosexuality. What about old-fashioned business immorality? Are we, social conservatives but also economic conservatives, blind when it comes to their transgressions?

DeBeers is a corporation that was set up by Cecil Rhodes, the British explorer and adventurer who gave his name to the African country of Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe).

The purpose of DeBeers was to develop and to exploit the use of diamond mines in South Africa. The challenge was that, while diamonds were a rare resources only a couple of centuries ago, the discovery of extremely rich mines in South Africa and other countries of Africa are now pushing the prices down. The establishment of DeBeers consisted therefore, in a parallel effort, of setting up a cartel with other producers in order to control international prices of diamonds.

A cartel is a group of people, organizations, or companies which coöperate to control means of production, marketing, and pricing of a product. Under antitrust laws in many regions of the world, cartels are clearly illegal, because they cut fair market competition.

The whole concept of a cartel is exactly the reason US passed the Sherman Act. Cartels are immoral because they overcharge the buying public by unnaturally propping up prices. They victimize the general buying public. They are also against the freedom of enterprise for they force possible competitors to obey the cartel directives, often under financial or even physical threats; they are oppressing their co-producers and suppliers.

Naturally the issues of the quality of products and truth in advertising are all rolled together into the issue of the victimization of the buying public. Products of a given quality are much too expensive for what they could be if the prices were allowed to be set by the market forces. Any advertising claims are relying on the concept that the products are attractive at their offered prices, and attractive for different psychological reasons for the buyers. It the prices are not morally set, the whole advertising exercise is an effort in deceit.

The DeBeers operation is undoubtedly unethical not only towards the end buyers, the public which buys diamonds, but also to all distributors and retailers of diamonds in the whole world.

DeBeers is corrupt also because it is guilty of aiding and abetting the evil operations of a whole political system, South Africa’s Apartheid system. Out of this system DeBeers has drawn two advantages: one with its labor force which had to comply with its harsh managerial policies and two by unwarranted enrichment when it took over corporations which were driven out of business through no managerial errors of their own.

5. Morocco and the King

In Morocco, the king pretty much controls all the businesses. But the king does not really want to own these businesses. So he distributes them as presents. He gives thousands of businesses away to common subjects. Peasants mob him wherever he goes with handwritten letters, asking him to give them ownership of corporations. If he’s in a good mood, he complies. If not, he throws them away. This “generosity” is part of the reason Morocco managed to keep out the Arab Spring

Quote:

“The powerful monarch has given companies as gifts to thousands of his subjects and in a country where unemployment hovers around fifteen percent, such a gift is prized by millions. Popular Moroccan singer Latifa Raâfat is one of almost 4,000 Moroccans given a bus company by the king.”

Lew Rockwell is a libertarian writer, activist, and founder of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, which he once was President of. He’s contributed greatly to society and to American thought and top 10 list would like to dedicate this article to him by writing a short description about his best-selling books.

1. The Left, Right & The State

In this book, Lew Rockwell covers every topic related to economics and politics, from the business cycle  to trade, to the drug wars to environmentalism. In it, he argues that the threat to liberty comes not from just the left, but the right as well, and that neither really offers a consistent way of doing things. The real problem is much deeper than either the right or the left can recognize. It is the institution of the state itself, which almost every civic being wants to use to his/her own philosophical advantage.

The problem, he further argues, is that we do not have public policy. All forms of policy decisions made by state institutions that affect the uses of private property according to political priorities resort to the invasions of liberty. Relentlessly moving from left-wing to right-wing and back to left-wing policy is no progress.

Beautifully edited and pristinely argued, this is a work in applied Austro-libertarian theory, tracking issues and headlines as they occur and bringing the light of logic and evidence to bear on the question at hand. The articles collected can be read in a matter of five minutes each, and they are organized along topical lines.

2.  Speaking of Liberty

This book is actually a collection of speeches delivered over a period of ten years and is long (470 pages). It is the type of book people will want to see in the hands of  just about anyone they know. The book begins with economics  and explains why Austrian economics matters, how the Federal Reserve brings on the business cycle and why we need private property and free enterprise to name a few. Another section deal with war, using Mises and the work of other important thinkers in the libertarian tradition.

The book has a number of set principles: the corruption of politics, the universality and immutability of the ideas of freedom, the centrality of sound money and free enterprise, the moral imperative of peace and trade, the importance of hope and tenacity in the struggle for liberty, and the need for everyone to join the intellectual fight.

3. Pursue the Cause of Liberty: A Farewell to Congress

This is actually Ron Paul’s “Farewell to Congress” and a loud call for education in Austrian economics and liberty, delivered to the House of Representatives on November 14th 2012. Fittingly, Lew Rockwell Jr. wrote the courageous introduction which argues that Ron is the anti-politician. For Rockwell, Paul tells unfashionable truths, educates the populace rather than flatters them and stands up for the right principles even when the whole world is lined up against him. It’s Ron’s truth-telling and his urge to educate the public that should inspire us as we carry on into the future.

4. Man, Economy, and Liberty: Essays in Honor of Murray N. Rothbard

Man, Economy, and Liberty were essays published following a conference celebrating Murray Rothbard’s 60th birthday in 1986. 30  contributors-economists,  philosophers,  historians,  political  scientists, sociologists, and long-time friends and companions-honored one of the world’s living champions of liberty.

The essays were edited  by  Walter  Block  and  Llewellyn  H.  Rockwell,  Jr., Man,  Economy,  and Liberty  amply  and  yet  incompletely  attests  to  Rothbard’s productivity  and his  achievements and goals. Author  of  16 books  and thousands of articles, scholarly and journalistic,  Rothbard ranks among the great  social and libertarian thinkers. A system-builder, he is the architect of a rigorously consistent social philosophy.  Economics  and  ethics  are the  cornerstones  of the Rothbardian system and for good reason.

5. Pillars of Prosperity: Free Markets, Honest Money, Private Property

When the economic history of our times is being written, one man emerges as the philosopher of both the financial collapse and the disasters associated with government management and that is Ron Paul. He alone among the political class sounded the warnings and foresees the way out.

This manifesto is a treasure and a collection of his greatest speeches and debates over the last 30 years and provides documentary evidence that he is not only a master of the topic; he has provided a coherent explanation of nearly everything the government has done wrong in this area since he first entered public office. He also provides a way out, which is intriguing to read.

Last year we posted an article titled Top 10 Failed States (2011). The article highlighted  Top 10 countries that were identified by Foreign Policy Magazine’s Fund for Peace index as failed states on the alert or worsening failed states. The list combined the two and examined countries that were in need of our attention.

This year, we compare and contrast the list and see where there has been improvement. In many cases there were slight improvements. In others, things look bleak.

Six African nations are still occupying the top 10 of an annual failed-state index, including Somalia, which heads the list for the fifth straight year after continued struggles with lawlessness and piracy. On this list, we have 7 countries from Africa, including Libya which worsened since 2011 reports.

Let’s hope next year’s report will be better for each of these top 10 failed states.

1. Somalia

Somalia has once again topped the Failed States Index for the 5^th year in a row. Widespread lawlessness, ineffective government, terrorism, insurgencies and crime are big determining factors of why it’s number one on this top 10 list.

Somalia did not top this Top 10 List’s list of failed nations of 2011; however, I feel that this year it deserves this status. For 5 years, nothing has been done to correct the issues inside the country. The chaos is constant.

2. Syria

I disagree with Foreign Policy Fund for Peace’s assessment here. I believe that the civil war in Syria is leading the country in the opposite direction. For the past two years, there’s been nothing but brutality, chaos, political instability as well as widespread slaughter.

Syria’s many denominational groups lived together under the repression and human rights abuses that can characterize the rule of Bashar Al Asasd.

The situation remains quite hostile and this much is for certain: the regime’s once daunting aura has crumbled before the people’s eyes. Al Assad cannot even assure control over his country, never the capital, Damascus. The fuming cities of Homs, Hama and Idib are in worse condition than ever before.

Looking ahead, I agree with the Washington Post that the United States and its Western allies need to encourage a more stable transition of power and wherever possible, maintain national institutions, such as state services and the army, before shifting control of them to a new, elected democratic leadership. That’s what happened in the mostly bloodless revolutions of Egypt and Yemen, where the United States pushed the resistance movements to overthrow the dictators.

The United States made a half-hearted attempt to deal with this problem, by reassuring and supporting “military councils” in Aleppo, Idlib and other areas. The idea was that these groups would foster disciplined command and control among the rebels — helping them overthrow Assad and also providing some structure for orderly transition and governance. There is one problem with this: the military councils have largely dissolved.

Why number 2 on the top 10 list? It moved 8 spots in the wrong direction between 2011 and 2012.

3. Democratic Republic of Congo

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo expect very little from the state, government or civil servants. In fact, ordinary Congolese citizens frequently repeat expressions like “the state is dying but not yet dead” or “the state is ever present but completely useless”.  It seems there can be little argument that DR Congo is indeed a failed state. It’s been on the Foreign Policy The Fund for Peace list at #3 for 2 years in a row.

The average person living in the country is poor, hungry and under-informed. The government is unable to provide decent education or health services. The country – two-thirds of the size of Western Europe – is a battleground. The citizens of DR Congo live in fear from the brutal militias that still control parts of the eastern provinces, where rape has become almost normal. In fact, UN has called DRC the Rape Capital of the World.

It moved up 2 spots to #3 since 2011.

4. Sudan/South Sudan

Foreign Policy’s The Fund for Peace assessed South Sudan this year for the first time following the declaration of independence in the second half of 2011.  Although the FSI did not formally rank South Sudan because it was an incomplete year of data, the young nation has a place on this list, immediately behind its northern neighbor, Sudan. South Sudan’s brittle infrastructure, severe poverty, weak government and tense relations with Sudan continue to be a major concern.

During the recent Second Civil War (1999-2005), roughly two million people have died as a result of war, famine and disease, caused by internal conflicts. Four million people in southern Sudan have been banished and exiled at least once during the war. The civilian death toll is one of the highest of any war since World War II. The conflict officially ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January 2005, but things did not get better.

Darfur Genocide: In 2003, two rebel movements in Darfuri – the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) instigated an armed resistance movement against the Sudanese government, sighting concerns about the ostracism and the failure of the government to protect the people from attacks by nomads.

The Sudanese government, under the leadership of Omar al Bashir, retorted by unleashing Arab militias known as Janjaweed.  Sudanese forces and Janjaweed militia attacked hundreds of villages throughout Darfur; over 400 villages were completely destroyed and millions of people were forced to leave their homes.

Through the conflict, which was determined to be a genocide, African farmers and others in Darfur were being systematically displaced and murdered by the Janjaweed. The genocide in Darfur has taken the lives of 400,000 and displaced over 2,500,000 people. Over one hundred people continue to die each day; that is roughly five thousand every month. The Sudanese government begs to differ with these estimates and denies any linkage to the Janjaweed.

5. Chad

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chadian politics have been pigeonholed by uncertainty, volatility and coups d’état. The consolidation of power under Francois Tombalbaye led to an exacerbated religious and ethnic divide, which ultimately led to civil war. Political infighting led to periodic eruptions of violence, culminating in the ascendancy of Idriss Deby to the presidency in 1991.

Though Deby has seemingly supported augmented democratization, the results of the various multi-party elections held since 1996 have widely been viewed as defective. Following the 2010 Chad-Sudan peace accord, relations between the two countries improved dramatically, ending the long-standing proxy war between them.

Since 2011, Chad’s political and economic situation has gotten better significantly. The improvement in Chadian-Sudanese relations has led to a fall in the number of refugees and displaced persons. However, though oil extraction has granted the government more than US$754 billion in additional revenues, poverty-alleviation projects still continue to be quite low. Rising aggressiveness and volatility in nearby countries such as Nigeria and Mali could still spill over into Chad, threatening its current improving stability.

It moved down 2 spots from #3 to #5.

What we see in the media is one side of the story many politicians purport. They always have an alternative motive to doing what they do. Here are just 10 examples where U.S. political parties may or may not have been honest 100%. The views are not of the website and nor the author.

1. Bio-fuel Plan:

During the Bush administration, rise of food and oil prices was a major concern. Bush made this extraordinary change to convince the world that he has turned his country into a better steward of the environment. Bush had put this on the agenda over and over again; however, William Engdahl argued that this not true. He had a different motive.

2. War on Terrorism:

Many people like John Pilger argue that war against terrorism was a fraud. Pilger believes that the military pilots have run out of targets and were destroying mud houses, hospitals and red cross warehouses. He also argues that war on terrorism was uncalled for. September 11 had nothing to with Afghanis and bin Ladin’s safehouses were emptied. He thus believes that Bush had a hidden agenda. If he was pursuing war on terrorism, Bush would have invaded Florida, where CIA funded terrorists were located.

3. Social Security:

Bush and Cheney were going after social security which was one program that was giving assistance to people who needed it. In an article written by Michael Hudson in April Harper Magazine titled “4.7 Trillion Pyramin—Why Social Security Won’t be Enough to Save Wall Street,” Hudson believes that social security is not failing,  corporate pension plans are the ones that are underfunded and are likely to go bankrupt. He therefore asserts that Bush is trying to save the corporations by taking it out on Social Security.

4. Nationalization of Private Buses:

The Republic Party Republic presidential hopeful has tried to nationalize private buses. Many call Cain for his hidden agenda. He desires to actually propose a progressive takeover by the MTA of the bus services.

5. International Republican Institute (IRI) and McCain:

Senator McCain and former presidential hopeful has been involved with IRI for a number of years. IRI is thought to be a politically independent entity, but is actually aligned with the Republican Party. Sarah Hamburger from the Council on Hemisphere Affairs believes that this may hurt US-Latin American relations, if MCain would have won the election, due to its destructive influences in the past.

Men and women seem to be on fairly even footing — from a demographics standpoint, at least. According to 2012 worldwide estimates from the CIA, for every female baby born on the planet, 1.07 male babies are born, meaning that boys slightly outnumber girls. However, that his-to-hers ratio has evened out over the years, since men are known to die sooner than women.

But for all of that statistical equality, it’s a well-known fact that the places men and women live are often almost always living in a society dominated by the menfolk. The United States has yet to elect a female president, and as of 2012, women held 90 congressional seats, which might sound like a lot but is only 16.8 percent of the total numbers. Female senators are a similarly select group, making up only 17 of the 100 positions. The gender gap has still not been bridged and also extends beyond American borders, since there is less than 10 percent of female government leaders and fewer than one in five female parliament members worldwide.

As governments and organizations strive to close that sprawling disparity and get more women involved in political decision-making, it’s worthwhile to recognize those who’ve already done their parts to achieve that goal. Around the world, here are the top 10 pioneering politicians who have attempted to make our globalizing society a better place, for not just women, but blacks, the proletariat etc.

Here is a top 10 list of most memorable politicians who’ve left an impact on our global village.

>1. Jack Layton:

This NDP and the Official Position Party Leader of Canada was the first to be known by his first name. He talked to the people instead of at the people. He advocated for equality and for social justice across Canada and in Ontario.

Why No.1?  For the New Democratic Party, he was the leader who effectively moved them beyond just being a protest party. He gave reactionaries a taste of pragmatism that wasn’t too punitive for palates long familiar to ideological purity. In doing so, he opened the door for the more politically conventional style of the leader who filled his shoes, Thomas Mulcair. One need not be an NDP supporter to be impressed by Layton’s achievements and accomplishments. He therefore deserves to be on this list of most memorable politicians

2.  Barack Obama:

This is one president who is a risk taker who took on a big risk by promising to deal with the debt default by August of 2011. Not many politicians can take such a gamble on their life.

Stephen Rattner believes that the president understanding of the need for a long-term solution to the country’s deficit and other major budgetary matters, such as tax reform, will  most likely “define” his legacy as United States president. Although he was far from perfect and did not achieve much in his first term, President Obama made the effort that most presidents failed to do.

3. Sarah Palin:

This Vice-Presidential candidate was unconventional. Not many predecessors could say they were women running for presidency and a mom of 5 children, oldest being 20 and the youngest being 1 at the time of Presidential elections. She proudly endorsed herself as a hockey mom. AMERICA IS CHANGING!

Why one of the 10 most memorable politicians? In sum, Sarah Palin has have had a significant influence on presidential politics even if she never seeks office again as President or Vice-President. By a long shot bet, she may one day explore a Senate run in Arizona, where she recently purchased property. Meanwhile, I’ll think of her every time a politician makes the jump from campaigning to Fox News or reality television or any as yet untapped revenue stream.

4. Jesse Ventura:

This wrestler won the election for Governor of Minnesota in 1998. He did not follow he predecessors as soon as he entered office. He decided to take residence in his home, Maple Grove, instead of the Governor’s mansion. This created criticism as well as loss of jobs for some.

5. Ross Perot:

This Independent Presidential candidate is definitely unconventional. He announced his presidency on TV in the funniest way. He said that he would run, if voluntary people would put his name on the ballot in 50 states.

Why 1 of 10 most memorable politicians?  Perot (Reform Party) came too close for comfort in his presidential bid and the 2 major parties vowed to never allow a 3rd party be in those debates again after his run. The very REASON Perot got so many votes is because he was allowed into those debates.

Many Canadians are exemplary 21st century political scientists. The scholars on this top 10 list have revolutionized literature and have paved the way for greater debates. Many of them are visiting scholars in universities around the world and are recognized as the best in the fields.  As such here are the top 10 21^st Century political science scholars in Canada.

1. Michael Ignatieff:

Many remember might remember Ignatieff as the former leader of the Liberal Party, the former opposition party of Canada. His poor judgment and leadership skills led to the ultimate downfall of the party in the May 2011 election.

Before he was a politician, he was a scholar, writer and professor who worked in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. He immensely wrote in the field of International Relations on the topic of nation building, peacekeeping and the international responsibilities of Western nations. After leaving politics in 2011, Ignatieff took on a teaching position at University of Toronto where he will continue to build on his scholarly writings.

2. Robert W. Cox:

A former political science professor and United Nations officer, Robert W. Cox is another 20^th and 21^st century political science scholar in Canada. He has changed and paved way for an innovative critical Political Economy thought. Many scholars like Stephen Gill were influenced by Cox and are continuing Cox`s work and tradition. He is most famous for what is now labeled as Neo-Gramscian Thought. Here he focuses on a critical analysis of IR as opposed to a problem solving one.

3. Leo Panitch:

Dr. Leo Panitch has been teaching at York University for the past 27 years. He is a Marxist scholar who typically uses imperialist thought to describe United States actions in 21^st Century. He is currently an editor at Socialist Register, which provides free articles for everyone to read. Although Marxist, he does challenge Karl Marx`s interpretation of trade unions helping people to become class conscious in the capitalist world. He believes trade unions are compatible with capitalism.

4. Shannon Bell:

If you thought political theory is boring and too classic, you need to immerse yourself in Shannon Bell`s literature. She has been a political science professor at York University since 1995. Since becoming a professor and obtaining her PhD she has revolutionized post-modern political theory in Canada. Her publications include: Writing and Rewriting the Prostitute Body, Whore Carnival and Bad Attitude/s on Trial. Furthermore, her courses on cyberspace politics and Post Identity politics are popular amongst students and are easily filled.

In her recently published book, Fast Feminism, she adds a personal touch to the major feminist political theory assumptions. She focuses on the hyper masculinity of feminist by combining traditional feminist theories with that of speed politics and the work of Paul Varilio.

Graduate students at York University are lucky to have such a scholar as their mentor.

5. Gad Horowitz:

This political scholar in Canada has led us to understand why Canada is more conservative than United States and why the country is more tolerant of Socialism. Unlike the United States, Canada is a compact of British and French influences. Many conservative loyalists moved from the United States to Canada during the American Revolution. They helped shape collectivist policies which Dr. Horowitz defines as being part of Canada since its inception. Socialism, for him, came out of Conservatism and is also collective. This is all explained in his theory of Red Tory.

Dr. Horowitz is a professor at University of Toronto where he teaches Canadian Politics and Political Theory.

Women have been at the helm of the affairs of their countries for many generations, but in the 20th Century the number of well known women leaders increased manifold. The 10 women listed below led their countries through times of turbulence and peace.

1. Indira Gandhi  – Prime Minister of India
Born into India’s politically influential  Nehru family, she was India’s first woman Prime Minister. A hard nosed pragmatic, she ruled the country with firmness and determination, taking hard and tough decisions when needed. She was assassinated by two of her own guards in 1984.

2. Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister of United Kingdom
Nicknamed “Iron Lady” due to her tough stance against the erstwhile Soviet Union, she led her country through recession and high unemployment into a period of relative prosperity, and a rise in its stature among fellow nations. She was the first woman to lead a major political party in the United Kingdom.

3. Benazir Bhutto  – Prime Minister of Pakistan
The daughter Pakistan’s Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she ruled her country from 1988-1990, and 1993-1996. She was assassinated in 2007, during election campaigning. It was widely expected that she would go on to become Prime Minister for a record third term.

4. Corazon Aquino – President of Phillipines
Asia’s first female President, she was a novice when she was elected President sometime after her husband’s assassination. She was a strong advocate of women’s rights and of democracy as opposed to Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorial rule.

5. Sonia Gandhi  -  Leader of India’s Congress Party
Believed by many to be the power behind the throne, she holds no political office, yet rules the country. An Italian by birth, she adopted India as her country after marrying Rajiv Gandhi. She has been nominated as the third most powerful woman in the world.