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On Tuesday Denmark held a contentious election. After a new party entered the political scene in the spring, the election was viewed as a chance to enable political change after six years under the Liberal-Conservative government.

However, after a heated election the Liberal-Conservatives, together with the support of the Danish Peoples Party (Dansk Folkeparti), won a narrow majority in parliament, with 90 of 179 seats.

The Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh, has promised to seek broader coalltions while in government.

According to a recent article by Allan Stam in Online Opinion democracy is currently being questioned on all fronts. However, Stam argues that empirical evidence by political scientists prove that well functioning democracies embark in safe foreign policy. 

The reason is that people do not want to be part of expensive and long-lasting wars. This is becuase this is not in the majorities self-interest. Meanwhile, politicians do not want to be leaders of unpopular wars.

Therefore, democratic institutions such as voting, free press and separation of powers help politicians engage in an efficient foreign policy that wins wars. 

Stam says that recent studies show that:

"Aristocrats do not bring out the best in the people. Rather, it is
the so-called mob that brings out the best in the government elite."

Army General and President Pervez Musharraf delcared a State of Emergency in Pakistan. The Army has imposed Martial Law.

The declaration came only hours before the Supreme court were to announce the legality of Musharraf's reelection. The Supreme Court refused to endorse the declaration. They argued it was unconstitutional. Following the declaration, the Supreme Court was placed in house arrest and a new Chief Justice was appointed.

According to Najam Sethi of Rediff News Musharraf has declared a state of emergency as Army Chief and announced a Provisional Constitutional Order, which only an Army Chief can order. Meanwhile, the Provisional Constitutional Order 'confirms and upholds' Musharraf as President of Pakistan. It demands a new oath from those judges who wish to be part of the new Federal Shariat Court, High Court and Supreme Court. Sethi argues that this will create a pro-executive judiciary within a relatively short amount of time.

Demonstrations are expected from the oppostion. However, with the media blinded and the judiciary temporarily suspended it seems the army and the police will be able to crush the movement. Afterwards, Sethi believes that Musharraf will return the country to a democracy.