Do you think the US can make any nation embrace democracy or do you think some nations are not ready or do not

Question

want to be democratic ??

Answer 1

Hi Tony,

I'm in general agreement with many of the comments you've thus received; but I'd like to add something.

Contrary to what many pundits might claim, "real" democracy isn't about voting. They have regular elections in North Korea and Iran; but so what. Moreover, the Unites States isn't a democracy at all, it's a Republic. (Consider -- neither the President nor the federal judiciary are voted into office by the people. The President is chosen by the Electoral College, and the Judiciary are all appointed by the President, ratified by the Senate, and sit for life terms -- nothing too democratic about that).

The short answer to your most excellent question is -- "Yes. you can make people embrace elections; but, NO, you cannot make them embrace REAL liberal democracy." And the reason is because real liberal democracy isn't about institutions, but a sense of maturity that must be embraced and CANNOT be imposed.

Why?

Because other forms of government are purely mechanical (and therefore can be imposed), while liberal democracy is social and psychological (and therefore must be willingly embraced). We dump the autocratic Tsar for an Autocratic Soviet regime -- big deal. The only response from the people that is necessary in either form is to shut up and do as they are told.

But genuine democracy requires that people stop being "subjects" and requires them to be actual "citizens." It's the difference between being a "Child" and an "Adult." What we want our children to do is "obey." But what we expect from "Adults" is to accept responsibility for their actions, and to maintain a large measure of "self control." And THIS is why you cannot impose liberal democratic systems on the world. You CANNOT make someone grow up.

And what is the nature of this "self control?"

In order for liberal democracy to blossom, it requires the wide spread acceptance of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. It requires people to accept pluralistic values of tolerance for other people and their views. It requires people to accord the same freedoms to those they hate, as they cherish for those whom they love, because they know that this is the only way to safeguard those values they hold most dear.

It's not easy to stand back and allow those who are spewing rubbish to go on doing so -- it hurts, and that pain is so great, there are only a few nations on the earth who've achieved it. But it's precisely that kind of disciplined self-restraint and respect for the rights of the individual that are key to the whole process.

And there's no way you can force that on people. They have to want it. You can't make people grow up, take responsibility for their lives and live in disciplined existance. They have to WANT it. And the sad fact is -- most people never achieve that because they've never seen it before, and it's never been required of them. Liberal Democracy must be modeled for people to adopt it. That's why the philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau was correct when he said, that only a free people can make a free society. When slaves achieve liberty, he said, they don't use that liberty to achieve genuine adult freedom, but use it merely to enslave their former masters. And thus, he concludes, the slave society perpetuates itself. The only difference is that the former masters are now slaves, and the former slaves the new masters.

What's going on in Iraq right now with the former oppressed Shia now on top and lording it over the the former Sunni masters is a perfect illustration of this truth. And you can see for yourself how well THAT'S working. They may have elections, but the Iraqi's are light-years away from embracing the values which sustain a genuinely free society.

You have to WANT SOOOOO badly to make it work. And unfortunately, most people are more interested in tit-for-tat revenge than in growing up.

Hope this helps. Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

The U.S. should not force other countries to do something. If the country is willing to embrace democracy, they will try hard to do it. Iraq doesn't seem to want to try hard enough to have their own Democracy if people keep getting blown up and killed. They have to want it first. Alot of those Iraqis who have had to deal with increased violence since the war started, wants the U.S. out of there. I think there will need to be another tactic involved rather than the war. It has been said by some members of government that the war cannot be won militarily, it is a political conflict between the peoples of Iraq. It is a civil war of that nation and the Americans are caught in between them.

Answer 3

I think we may try to make every nation embrace democracy but it won't happen. Many nations are not ready for it, while in many other nations their culture will not allow it. Some religions will not support democracy, and if that is the primary religion in that country then it won't happen, the religion will hold to much power and influence in the people's live's

Answer 4

The naive belief that all peoples of the world are desperately seeking American style-democracy is the result of hypervangelism. Hypervangelism is the secular expression of religious evangelism: "Since we know the ultimate spiritual truth, and our job is to spread that truth, we must also know the ultimate political, social, and economic truth." So, the U.S. has been busy spreading the gospel of capitalism, democracy, and good ol' fashioned "American know how" around the globe for the last 100 years. In some ways this has had positive results; in others ways it has been disastrous. Especially disastrous is our naive belief that everyone wants a U.S. style government.

The answer is diplomacy--different people are ready for democracy at different times. The Middle East is still going through a religious reformation--until that is finished, democracy is impossible. And we have simply gotten in the middle of their reformation.

At least that's one theory...

Answer 5

Perhaps the U.S. can try to make a nation to embrace democracy, but if it cannot somehow convince the people of that nation of the merits of democracy, then the people of that nation will resist it rather than embrace it.

Democracy is simply not something that can be imposed on a nation, at least not in the way that the U.S. seems to try to impose it.

Answer 6

In the case of Iraq, they don't seem to understand what democracy is. Its my guess these people voted on the basis of religion and their government will have everything to do with religion which doesn't work in a true democracy. Their political parties would appear to be the factions of their religion, Sunni, Shia, and Kurd.

The country seems to be divided by religious sects instead of held together by any sense of nationalism. They will probably end up with their own form of government if they ever stop killing each other.

Answer 7

I don't think they can make other countries embrace democracy,its in their blood.Name a country that doesn't want what we have?Everybody wants the American dream,live in a house with your family with rights to live a healthy life,or live alone and make millions from a dollar.It seems to me that other countries envy the fact we live like we do.FREE.Sometimes I think the wholesome American takes their freedom for granted,until someone tries to take it away.Then whoever is dumb enough to try will feel their wrath in ways unimaginable.Its scary but the truth.

Answer 8

democracy is a process therefore no one can force any country 2 be democratic.

Answer 9

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink."

"Imposed democracy" is an interesting oxymoron, nothing else. It is impossible for ANY country to make any other country democratic by force. Impossible by definition.

Answer 10

I do not believe it is left up to any country whatsoever to push their form of government on another, just like I don't believe someone should push their religion upon me. Whatever form of government a country chooses (except in communism it's usually not a choice), should be their perogative.