It is absolutely imperative that political leaders keep the public informed. Indeed, withholding information from citizens is such a serious offense that it can lead to the fall of a government. Fundamental human rights are predicated on the right to information, and these freedoms allow citizens to more fully participate in the functioning of their government. A democracy cannot survive without the proper flow of information between its constituents and those who govern

The first argument against disclosure is that governments do not need to disclose certain information for fear of persecution or reprisal. In a totalitarian government, such as Stalin’s Russia, even a minor act of defiance against the government could mean death. Hence, it is logical to assume that a government would not willingly disclose information about itself because it would risk exposing its weaknesses and secrets. Yet, as history has amply demonstrated, even governments living under totalitarian rule have occasionally broken protocol and revealed information about themselves. For instance, Nazi Germany tried to hide the truth about its war machine during the early years of World War II, but the Allies managed to obtain such information through spies and prison breaks, eventually bringing an end to Germany’s abhorrent reign. After the Allied victory, however, the victorious powers felt that they had an obligation to those whose suffering they had ended. The Allies established a war crimes tribunal headed by the formidable Nuremburg trials judge, Robert Jackson. This tribunal proceeded to indict the Nazi regime and its leaders for crimes against humanity. The Nuremberg trials were an extraordinary success because they presented irrefutable evidence to a global audience, which ensured that the Nazi regime would be held accountable for its actions. However, the Anglo-American system of trials and punishment, with its reliance on evidence and due process, would not work elsewhere

First, there is no legal system in the world that is universally applicable. Systems of justice, as abstract as they may seem, are rooted in local customs, value systems, and traditions. The rule of law is a concept that has been adopted across the world, but its implementation varies enormously. In authoritarian or totalitarian states, such as North Korea, the state is supreme and individuals have little power. In such nations, information cannot be withheld from citizens. In nations with democratic governments, on the other hand, even foreign leaders might be reluctant to share certain information for fear of voter backlash. Australia, for example, has an extremely free press where independent journalists and (even) foreign correspondents are free to investigate and report all matters of public interest. In a country like this, political leaders can withhold information without fear of reprisal

Second, democracies are fragile. The very nature of democratic government is that citizens must band together to ensure that their nation is governed in a responsible manner. If citizens are not informed, they might decide to vote in a dictatorship, or they might engage in some act of insurrection against the state. In any case, if the country’s leaders are not transparent, it is only a matter of time before the country experiences some crisis. Dictatorships are adept at manipulating the public, and the citizens of democracies can easily be manipulated into believing that some dangerous figure like Hitler or Stalin is the solution. Even under democracy, citizens must be properly educated about national issues and global happenings. A populace that is uninformed and complacent is ripe for exploitation

Thus, it is absolutely essential that political leaders be open about national affairs. Information must be readily available to all, and citizens must be allowed to protest, vote, and voice their opinions without fear of reprisal. If the government cannot or will not share information with its citizens, then the leaders of that nation are acting contrary to the best interests of their nation.