Discussion: Response on Australia and Belgium Thread
Response 1: Australia
Overview
The thread suggests that Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. This is true if Antarctica is excluded for the numerous territorial claims of 7 nations, but if Antarctica is considered, then Australia is the 7th largest territory after Brazil (CIA, 2020). Geographically, its size, including its overseas territories of Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island, covers an area of 7.7 million square kilometers. This geographical area’s territorial waters is about 58, 920 square kilometers, which is small considering its location between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean (CIA, 2020). It is a former British Colony that has existed as the Commonwealth of Australia since 1901.
People and Society
Indeed, Australia is an ethnically diverse country with a large immigrant population. Out of a total population of 25 million according to 2020 estimates, the English are the majority at 25.9, and those who consider themselves Australian are 25.4 percent of the population (CIA, 2020). Others include the Greeks, Dutch, Scotts, Italians, Chinese, and Indians. Oddly though, indigenous inhabitants (the Aborigines) are classified as others making up 15 percent of the population (CIA, 2020). Consequently, this nation is a kaleidoscope of nations and ethnic groups which qualifies it as a nation of immigrants.
Political, Economic Realities of Australia, and the Effectiveness of Criminal Justice System
It is also affirmatively agreeable that it is a market economy based on Agriculture and commodity exports, but its service sector contributes most to its GDP. To justify this, Australia’s economy is built on an “open and transparent trade environment” (Australia Government, 2016). While this thread focused on its mining, industry, and agricultural sector, the service sector is its mainstay contributing to 60 percent of the GDP (Australia Government, 2016). Thus, the place of its service sector is her main economic pillar.
Australia’s criminal justice is indicated as fair, but again the thread acknowledges the human rights concerns, especially concerning the minorities. In this regard, the Maori and Pacific Islanders are overrepresented in the criminal justice system due to unemployment, low levels of education, lack of access to social services, and low wages (Shepherd & Ilalio, 2015). As such, the argument of fairness within criminal justice is true, given the fairness, it accords to defendants. Despite the preceding guarantees, the socio-economic realities of minorities increase their propensity to commit crimes (Shepherd & Ilalio, 2015). Unless these disadvantages are addressed, fairness hardly limits their incarceration rates.
Response 2: Denmark
Dialects, Ethnic Groups, and Religion
According to the thread, Denmark is a multi-ethnic nation comprising of Greenlandic Inuit’s as the largest ethnic group. Notably, there is a confusion between ethnicity and dialect with respect to Denmark since Inuit is referred to as the largest dialect; instead, it is the Danish who comprise 86 percent of the population (CIA, 2020). The Danish ethnic group comprises of the Greenlandic, who are Inuits and the Faorese dialects (cia.gov). Consequently, this is a minor oversight that needs to put right.
Evangelical Lutheran is the official religion while there are also non-denominational Christian, but there is also a need to identify other existing religions. Accordingly, Evangelical Lutherans are the majority and comprise 74.4 percent of the population (CIA, 2020). Muslims are about 5.5, and the rest are either Jehova Witnesses, Serbian Orthodox Christians, Jews, Baptists, Buddhists, Mormons, Pentecostals, as well as non-denominational Christians (CIA, 2020). It is prudent, therefore, to recognize the religious formation of this nation to give a fair representation formation of the tiny European Monarchy.
Denmark’s Economy
As the thread suggests, Denmark is an industrialized nation practicing an open market system that has been on the decline since 2008. In this regard, the thread identifies its industries, such as agriculture, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and shipping, which are experiencing moderate growth (CIA 2020). In this regard, the Kingdom had a surplus until 2008 during the global financial crisis, which saw the economy contract. The aforementioned arises from an economy that is prone to import tariffs, trade barriers, the decline in house prices, and turmoil in the financial sector (OECD, 2019). Accordingly, this sheds light on the economic shocks facing the country.
Transnational Issues, Effectiveness of Criminal Justice System and Terrorism
Denmark’s location predisposes her to transnational criminal activities such as Islamic radicalization, a new challenge without adequate response. Perhaps the best example in this regard is terrorism, where the police professionalism and investigation prowess, as well as the judiciary’s efficiency, is put to the test in light of human rights (Vestergaard, 2018). The Danish legislature’s approach has been to increase strict measures to discourage Danish citizens from traveling abroad to join radical groups abroad (Vestergaard, 2018). For instance, the Foreigners Act and the Passport Code have been amended to bar Danish citizens or residents from traveling to conflict zones as foreign fighters aboard. This raises serious issues of the burden of proof required before an individual is barred from traveling. Moreover, there is a need for a de-radicalization program as punishment alone is an insufficient deterrent for those who act based on their belief (Vestergaard, 2018). Consequently, emerging challenges require novel responses.
References
Agency, C.I (2020). Australia. World Fact Book. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
Agency, C.I. (2020). Denmark. World Fact Book. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
Australia, G. (2016). Australia in Brief. Public Diplomacy Branch https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australia-in-brief.pdf
OECD (2019). Economic Surveys Denmark. http://www.oecd.org/economy/surveys/Denmark-2019-OECD-economic-survey-overview.pdf
Shepherd, S. M., & Ilalio, T. (2016). Maori and Pacific Islander overrepresentation in the Australian criminal justice system—what are the determinants?. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 55(2), 113-128.
Vestergaard, J. (2018). Foreign Terrorist Fighters: De-Radicalisation and Inclusion vs. Law Enforcement and Corrections in Denmark. In C. Briere, & S. Weyembergh (Eds.), The Needed Balances in EU Criminal Law (pp. 257-285). Hart Publishing.