Can you create democracy by force?

Question

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1865720,00.html

Answer 1

Did Bush create democracy in Iraq ? No because it was sent by arms ,, democracy is not created, it is the consensus reached by the citizens of the same country , how can a country adop others way of democracy and apply it in a hystorical contest that is not the continuation of hers? force cannot acheive anything but creating an opposing force

Answer 2

You can open the doors to Democracy by force but you cannot force Democracy on an unwilling population. Democracy to work requires a certain level of comitment and resolve. One I see dieing even in this country.

Democracy and corruption are antagonists. Real Democracy cannot survive in corrupt environments for long. So again you can overthrow a tyrant but if you do not address the corruption then all you'e done was change the name of the tyranny.

Not sure what the article has to do with Democracy or force. To be honest it sounds like an American style toe the party line mud slinging at a politician disreguarding fact or damage to the nation as a whole. As long as it dispariages the opposing politicitian.

To address the "alliances" thing. the solution to Iraq is simple. Build it and we will come, come with big bombs and blow that reactor up. Simple solution. Effective solution. Crisis over. We have already offered to supply uranium for a non-breeder reactor. If that isn't enough then all the reason in the world will not work with those guys. Sanctions are nothing but impotent noise. Diplomacy makes us look weak which encourages stupidity on both sides. That is realism about the situation. You cannot act like a different culture has our values. In the West sanctions and diplomacy works. We view the world differently. Trying to deal with Iran like they are a Western nation is like trying to force Democracy on unwilling/corrupt populations. Doomed to failure that is because of a key lack of understanding and arrogance enough to the think that what we are doing is so great the whole world wants to instantly emulate us. So the article espouses the very same elements it seeks to vilify.

Answer 3

I think it is not that simple

Democracy is a way of governing - dictatorial regime is another
this explains how laws and decisions are taken - not how people are treated;
The democracy benefits is to let people decide who will decide for them.

Here are some reasons for which I think it is not obvious
- the people is not ready to such a change - the previous dictator may have a good image for improving the people's life while ha was on power
- the democracy imposed by force doesn't always observe their culture and laws
- the democratic election needs some candidates - when it is created by force - there are no "natural" candidates
- would you really think elections are free if democracy was forced by foreign army occupation?
- who would you really thrust foreign invaders that bring war you didn t wish or local dictator

Answer 4

Well lets take a look at history for this one. In the colonial days of America, Democracy was created by force... the force of us against them. Now if you're trying to "force" Democracy on others however... I don't believe you'll find the same results. Whenever beliefs are challenged people will stand up for what they believe in. The problem with this is you create cause for rebellion, I say that everyone must wear blue shirts tomorrow... and if you don't own one you must pay me X amount of dollars so that I can give you this shirt so you can wear this shirt that I say you have to wear. Now what happens if you're seen with out this shirt, you're not one of us... you're an enemy of our belief. I hate to break it down to such simple means of comparison but it really is that simple. You can't make people do what you want them to do unless you have leverage over them. Since politics and religion are the powers that have controlled man since the dawn of time I'll make one final observation about "force". What force is used is not always visible. It could be fear, Christians used it with the 10 commandments they forced people to follow their beliefs by putting the fear of God in them. Well after Jesus came around force became more like convincing than actual force.

Answer 5

Sure can. What do you think the USA Government has been doing in America for the past 50 years? If you'll look, we're supposed to be a REPUBLIC. Yes, you can do it, but it takes a long time.

The USA is a REPUBLIC, not a Democracy..... FACT

All the Democracy talk is a brainwashing tactic to get you all to completely give up your right to live in a Republic where freedom reigns supreme.

Answer 6

Well looking at these previous answers,I must be stupid.The very word CREATE does'nt embolden force.No you can force people to live under your rules,but you can't make them accept them.The will of the people,is the only law the people will obey Thier rules,are the only rulesthey want.Not someone elses No you simply cannot enforce ademocracy,anywhere against the will of the people

Answer 7

Well, if America is any example the answere is no. What you need to be is a good example which America isn't anymore. Also you need leaders who respect live as such, leaders who don't dance to the tune of The Wall St and (dare i say it) the Zionists.

Answer 8

Kind of a conflict of interest, or an irony, to create democracy by force, but it's done every day.

Answer 9

Yes, you create government and authority ONLY by force.

Answer 10

No.....Freedom is something you have to want bad enough to fight and die for. To force it on people will just make them take it for granted because there was no sacrifice involved and the population will resent you because the will feel like your forcing your way of life on them.