Maldives: General Information |
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The Maldives is a small nation made up of a string of islands in the Pacific Ocean, south of Sri Lanka. The country is an Islamic state (under Islamic law) with a population of around 350,000 (UNHCR Maldives). The country has a democratic government, but has, "faced challenges in consolidating democratic institutions and culture" (UNHCR Maldives). The islands are low lying and heavily developed by tourist resorts (UNHCR Maldives). Many climate change scientists predict that rising sea levels will make the islands uninhabitable in the near future (Bluepeace NGO).
Problems in paradise
The Maldives' inability to progress past typical third world practices has resulted in a societal instability unable to cope with the result of western greed: rising sea levels. Without the financial assistance of an international effort and the intervention of the country's government, the situation will evolve into a major humanitarian emergency for the country.
Timeline
To begin to understand the situation that the islands of the Maldives are in, it is necessary to look at the country's history.
After becoming an independent democracy in 1962 (Hoffman, "Maldives"), the country has changed it's leaders inconsistently, with one leader holding the top position for 30 years while another leader held it for less than a year. With many attempted coups and overthrows, the nation's government has been very unstable, making them unreliable at times.
Map
The economy, government, and environment within the islands of the Maldives can be found most prominently in the North Male Atoll, the capital: Male, and the Addu Atoll. In these locations the most exaggerated examples of their respective role in Maldivian society are present, making them great examples of the country's society.
Click on each button to see each location's major role in Maldivian society.