World News and Trends
Beyond Today Magazine
Good News Magazine: September - October 2010
Course Content
Democracy isn't really working well in the developing world.
"Despite an economic renaissance, much of Africa is drifting toward a new age of authoritarianism" (Jason McLure, "Why Democracy Isn't Working in Africa," Newsweek, June 18, 2010). Even leaders in the countries that have recently begun the democratic process have only used it to become elected autocrats.
The Russian leadership fell into this trap some time after the breakup of the Soviet Union. "Vladimir Putin, riding on high approval ratings while Russian president in the early 2000s, stripped regional governors of influence, eviscerated the national parliament and began to neuter influential media" (Joshua Kurlantzick, "Democracy in Danger," Prospect, June 2010).
The Independent reported the onset of new legislation in Russia confirming this trend. The upper house of Moscow's parliament recently passed a bill that "gives Russian security services sweeping powers to question people about crimes that have not yet been committed" (Shaun Walker, "New Russian Law Revives Sweeping KGB Powers," July 20, emphasis added throughout). Russian president Dmitry Medvedev's signature turns the bill into law.
In addition, "Venezuela's Hugo Chavez appears to be deploying similar tactics, using his power to entrench his allies and undermine checks on his presidency—for instance, by revoking the license of the nation's most vocal private television network and those of dozens of radio stations" (Kurlantzick).
Examples could be cited in the opposite direction, but those are notable exceptions to the rule. Newsweek commented, "But backsliders have them outnumbered, a shift that hasn't gone unnoticed in the West" (McLure). Even supposedly fairly well-established democracies have succumbed to the danger, Thailand being a clear case in point.
The European Union (EU) was largely created to both inhibit and prevent warring and dangerous dictatorships from developing again in Europe. The Bible plainly tells us that this carefully contrived human strategy will not work in the long run.
Although one Turkish politician described the EU as "the greatest peace project in the history of mankind," God's Word tells us that a charismatic dictator called "the Beast" is destined to arise and dominate the European scene—controlling the world at large as well. The final book of the Bible warns us of what will happen: "And all the world marveled and followed the beast" (Revelation 13:3). Masses of people will exclaim: "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (verse 4).
His authority and influence will spread over the whole planet. The apostle John wrote, "And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue [language], and nation" (verse 7). (Sources: The Independent, Prospect [both London], Newsweek.)
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
