American Responsibility Case Study and Persuasion Project           

            Should America Be Responsible For Promoting Democratic Government In Other Countries?

I believe that America, as one of the most democratically advanced nations in the world, has a responsibility to teach other nations about democracy, and if necessary help them establish governments that function as a democracy.

            Every human on the planet should have the right to say who leads them and how they are governed. One of the greatest and most unique aspects of the human, is its ability to reason and have free will. In the face of oppression, the human spirit smolders with an inner anger that eventually causes it to lash out against its oppressors. In a democratic society, the human spirit is allowed to flourish, to shine forth, and to bask in the gifts of reason and freedom.

            According to a paper written back in 1998 at Harvard university, the goal of America is liberal Democracy and that U.S policies should encourage its proliferation (Lynn-Jones). When US policy is directed towards these aims, it shows the world, however indirectly, that America’s interest is not just in the economic stability of a region through the use of democratic government, but also that America wants the people of the world to enjoy the same individual liberties that Americans now take for granted.

           Through the use of electoral democracy, America can teach other nations that “Free and fair elections often remove leaders who are the biggest impediments to the spread of democracy” (Lynn-Jones). Unfortunately, there are many who oppose the spread of democracy in these nations primarily due to anti-democratic propaganda that dashes the ideals of capitalism, and proclaims the benefits of Theocracy or Communism. One might surmise that these are knee jerk reactions to change. Many of these governmental systems have been in place for hundreds or even thousands of years. It is also up for discussion that the same leaders who oppose the rise of democracy do so out of fear. Leaders who oppose democracy are afraid of its power to throw them down from their seats of power and turn that power over to a government elected by the people.

           However once these leaders are toppled, and democracy is allowed to flourish; it is evident to once oppressed peoples that

           “people generally live better lives under democratic governments.                Compared to inhabitants of non democracies, citizens of democracies enjoy greater individual liberty, political stability, freedom from governmental violence, enhanced quality of life, and a much lower risk of suffering a famine.” (Lynn-Jones)

           This is the political-scientific reason for the promotion of democracy, and is backed by statistics available to anyone willing to read them. From a moral standpoint, it appears tat Americans feel an obligation to promote democracy and that large majorities of Americans favor putting diplomatic pressure through public outcry on governments to respect human rights. ("World Public Opinion")

            In the same breath, Americans say that this proliferation of democracy should not be supported through military action, often stating that to do so does more harm than good. Public opinion in America is far more positive towards methods to promote democracy which involve the cooperation with a nations government through the use of aid and technical assistance. ("WorldPublicOpinion")

            In recent years the question of spreading democracy has been raised to a

higher level due to the policies of American government to use democracy to quell

the terrorist threat. Since most terrorists are the followers of extremist ideals derived

from theocratic, authoritarian, or Marxist philosophy, America attempts to

indoctrinate a region and a government with democratic ideals in order to stop the

spread of terrorism in the same way an inoculation stops the spread of a

disease.

            An article published in Foreign Affairs stated that “U.S. officials and policy

experts have increasingly come to believe that it is precisely the lack of democracy

in many of these countries that helps breed Islamic extremism.” (Carothers).

However, the author of the article states before this that the fight against terrorism

puts American government in a tempting position to lay down with the enemy and

seek ties with Middle Eastern and Asian autocracies in order to make alliances

against the spread of terrorism.

            In the end, the public opinion is positive towards the spread of democracy, but that American leaders should temper their zeal. The march of democracy across the world should not be viewed in the same light as the Sword of Islam in the middle ages. (McKenny) The proliferation of Democracy should be viewed in a positive light as a method for humans to interact with each other and to be united in a government that they voted in and under a set of laws that they voted for.