Self-determination is now recognized as a principle of legitimacy underlying modern international law. - Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

The war industries in many countries and the enormous trade in weapons of all kinds generate corruption and fuel conflict throughout the world. The existence of an immensely powerful military-industrial complex constitutes a danger to democracy, both internationally and domestically, because it follows its own logic and operates independently of popular participation.

Although the human rights dimension of trade is obvious, investors and corporations think that they can continue working in a human-rights-free zone.

Participation by the public in decision-making, which requires full information, transparency and accountability, is essential to the democratic order. Parliaments have a special responsibility to oversee the adoption of national budgets and to monitor the actual use of appropriations so as to ferret out corruption.