To what extent has democracy promotion been a central goal of American foreign policy?

The United States has its national interest in almost every corner of the world and it has always believed that its political ideas and principles are in theory universally applicable.
The superpower country with ability to act globally and as nation required dealing with a vast array of problems occurring constantly around the globe, it has encountered difficulties with its promotion of democracy because at times it’s apparently good intentions smack of ”˜democratic imperialism’. The growth of democracy promotion (DP) in American foreign policy is one more expression of the persistent influence of liberal internationalist definitions of the country’s role in the world.

The idea of democracy in US foreign policy was central in 20th century, but nowadays after the events of 9/11 and under conditions of globalized world, US has slightly changed the way of its promotion which is not s sharp and direct as it was recently.
The aim of US promotion of the democracy differs from one framework to another, depending on country’s problems.
The origin of democracy

The form of government known as democracy appeared in Greece, and literally saying this term means “the rule of the people”. Today it rather an abstract term and it may have various meanings but the most common is “a form of government in which people (directly or through their representatives) have and exercise the supreme power under a free electoral system, with a respect of human rights and the legal system”.

Democracies are learning organizations, therefore people who live in them are continually engaged in gathering more information, making adjustments to their positions, and reassessing progress.

The different problems for U.S. foreign policy were created even by the lack of understanding of democracy and its vital elements definition. “Without clear definition and assessment it is hard to determine a proper level of democratic reforming fulfillment in a certain country and consequently there is no final understanding of when the country has completed its task and doesn’t need a support in building democracy anymore.” There are different kinds of system that is called democracies now, for example electoral democracies, liberal democracies, pseudo democracies, semi-authoritarian governments, etc.

The main requirement of democracy that called electoral for it to be referred s democracy is actually free multiparty elections; it is a political system where legislative and chief leaders have to take part in these elections to fill the government positions.
Another political system that is called liberal democracy has the major elements of electoral democracy and also a basic legal document that manages the state institutions, law system, independent judiciary, and citizen’s liberties.

The other kinds of democracies include pseudo-democracies, non-democracies, and illiberal democracies. These kinds of political systems are considered to have a minimum level of democracy, they may have elections, multiparty political system and they definitely differ from authoritarian regimes in any case. As an example of illiberal democracy, I can indicate the Republic of Singapore. There are more than twenty registered parties in Singapore, but they are all overshadowed and overwhelmed by the government party which is called the People’s Actions Party.



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