Page 27 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Democracy

Emmeline
Pankhurst

BRITISH 1858-1928
At a time when women lacked the right
to vote, Pankhurst was one of the leading
voices in the Suffragette movement aimed
at breaking this status quo. As head of the
WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union),
which she cofounded in 1903, she led a series
of protests and demonstrations against the
government, which later took the form of
more violent objections like vandalism and
bombing. After suspending activity during
World War I, women aged over 30 were
granted the right to vote. Emmeline died in
1928 – the year the Fifth Reform Act gave
women the same voting rights as men.

Giuseppe Mazzini
Karl Marx has been coined
ITALIAN 1805-1872
A 19th-century activist and the father of communism
politician, Mazzini is best Karl Marx
remembered for his attempts to
unite Italy, at that time separated into GERMAN 1818-1883
a number of disparate states. Through One of the most iconic theorists of all time,
his organisation ‘Young Italy’ he Marx lent his name to the political dogma
Giuseppe Mazzini spearheaded the movement that would become espoused in numerous
helped unite Italy toward the unification of Italy regimes worldwide, both democratic and
– ‘Risorgimento’ – ultimately dictatorial in nature. A renowned philosopher,
achieved in 1861 with the economist, journalist and historian, he was
establishment of the Kingdom of Italy. an ardent campaigner of socialism during his
His vision of a united Europe would later lifetime, denouncing capitalist governments and
be realised through the formation of the advocating social change via revolutionary action
European Union over a century later. from the lower classes to topple those in power.

Montesquieu

FRENCH 1689-1755
Most famous for his theory of the separation of
powers – the tripartite system – which is in place in
many constitutions around the world, Montesquieu
decreed there were three types of ideal government:
monarchy (‘a single person governs by fixed and
established laws’); despotism (‘a single person directs
everything by his own will’) and republican government,
which could be either a democracy or aristocracy.
He also believed a woman could lead a state, but Theorist and social
doubted she would be as effective as a man. thinking pioneer
Montesquieu
AUNG SAN SUU KYI Martin Luther King has a US public
holiday named after him
BURMESE 1945-
The chairperson of the NLD (National League for MARTIN LUTHER KING
Democracy) in Burma, Kyi was placed under house arrest
during the 1990 general election (in which she
AMERICAN 1929-1968
received 59 per cent of the popular vote, although A guiding light in the African-American civil-rights movement,
the result wasn’t recognised by the ruling Martin Luther King made use of nonviolent protests like
military regime). Imprisoned on and off over the marches, often in the face of increasingly violent opposition and
next two decades, she nonetheless continued repression from the police. After gaining prominence during the
to fearlessly speak out in favour of democracy Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, he would later speak out on
and against the increasingly oppressive and topics like black voting rights and segregation, most notably in
violent ruling regime, which did its best to his ‘I have a dream’ speech in Washington in 1963. Having gained
curb her activities. Her unwavering stance recognition for his actions, such as winning the Nobel Peace Prize
helped shine the world media’s spotlight in 1965, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray.
on the escalating situation in Burma,
gradually forcing the regime to loosen its
released in 2010, she finally took a place Who did we miss out?
iron grip on the population. After being
Aung San Suu Kyi, a modern in the Burmese parliament in 2012. Let us know /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag
fighter for democracy
© Corbis
27