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Democratization

Overview

Democracy, colloquially defined to describe rule by the will of the people whether directly or through elected representatives, is the dominant form of government in the world -- whether real or pretended. It is generally accepted in the West that democracy is the most peaceful form of government, therefore the most desirable, hence efforts to democratize the countries of the world. However, debates on what democracy really consists of complicates this effort.

Background

Democracy has latent validity thanks to its drawing sovereignty from the will of the people, inherenty recongizing basic human rights and ensuring, in theory, more peaceful coexistance with other countries. However, efforts at democratization run into the brick wall of what democracy fundamentally consists of. Principally, do aberrations of traditional democratic regimes -- such as the theocratic state of Iran -- count as democracies?

The ecomomic success of nondemocratic giants, Russia and China, draw additional concerns about the essential valididity and needed dominance of democracies.

Another chief concern in dealing with democratization is the effects of globalization creating further interdependence and need for global governance while the international realm still remains undemocratic. The legitimacy afforded through democracy, it is argued, must be transferred to the international level in order for globalization to be managed for the benefit of humanity and not the power players on the world stage.

Links/Contact

- Freedom House
- Council on Foreign Relations

- Contact the US Mission to the UN
- Contact the US Department of State
- Find and contact your representative

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