double standards - the name used in the practice of discriminatory attitudes to the rights of certain races, peoples, communities, individual people.This term is used to evaluate the negative phenomena in social science, journalism, economics, and especially in politics.Governments of various states applying similar approaches to assess opponents, officially categorically reject discriminatory acts against people, not to express loyalty, as well as its competitors in the fight for the presidency or a parliamentary seat.
In assessing the behavior of virtually the same subjects are different laws, rules and principles, depending on how profitable it becomes such an attitude to the person carrying out the assessment.The double standard - a broad concept including selective justice.In such a situation, a person close to the government, even in the case of high-profile crimes go unpunished, and the unwanted citizens are in jail because of minor misdemeanors or false accusations.The policy of double standards in international relations often takes the form of accusations of unwanted countries and their governments in violation of the Convention and the principles and obligations of civil rights and violation of human values.
Terminology
term «double standard» appeared in the middle of the XIX century in the UK, and this phrase was used in relation to the unequal moral requirements for women and men.In the USSR, the concept of "double standards" was used with the 50-ies of XX century to refer to the class and racial inequality, characteristic of the capitalist states.
In politics
double standards in politics allow to influence the opinion of a certain part of the population.Thus, the government, sent troops to trouble spots, called his troops "soldiers-liberators," and the enemy - "armed gangs."For example, in the Soviet Union during the commissioning units in Afghanistan, tens of thousands of conscripts and officers were called soldiers-liberators.When, after fifteen years of US and NATO began to conduct combat operations in the territory of the State, the government of modern Russia has accused them of trying to occupation of foreign territory for selfish purposes.
Double standards are most visible in the assessments of observers watching honesty parliamentary and presidential elections in the republics of the CIS and the countries of the third world.So, if the government of these countries shared the Western model of democracy, the voting results are recognized even.And in situations where the leader or the winner is far from such an ideology, observers say multiple violations during the electoral process and accept completed the election unfair and undemocratic.
This case clearly evident when comparing the attitude of Western countries to Georgia and Belarus.Thus, the victory of pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, the EU called the triumph of democracy, such as voting in favor of the leader of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko - the result of intimidation of citizens and rigging.And it does not take into account that the two former Soviet republics in the prison sits a large number of political prisoners, those who disagree with the actions of the ruling regime, and they include politicians, journalists and just active citizens.
A similar situation applies to the unrecognized republics.Thus, Western countries have recognized the results of Montenegro's referendum on secession and its independence from Serbia, but still unwilling to accept the existence of these republics, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria.This is due to the fact that the EU and US support of its partners - Moldova and Georgia, and the recognition of the breakaway territories detrimental to the interests of these states.
