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The Forum > Article Comments > Democracy is always exported, but most frequently without success > Comments

Democracy is always exported, but most frequently without success : Comments

By Greg Barns, published 14/2/2005

Greg Barns argues that democracy needs the right conditions to be successfully exported.

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Apart from East Timor, Germany, Japan, Russia, Slovakia, Poland, Sth Africa, Korea, Afgahnistan, Ukraine, Georgia, Chile, Lebanon, Indonesia etc.....I'm sure I could go on
Posted by Sayeret, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 9:22:15 AM
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"The export of democracy is a ruse - a sugar coated skin thinly covering the bitter pill of American self-interest." Well said. And it seems peculiar why so many don't understand resistance to this self interest.
Here, in the US, we call our system a democracy, but it is hardly a representative government for most voters. In Iraq, a representative government is not what's been exported and the focus on that element is intentionally evasive. What is being imported is the 'American Way,' under the auspices of sweet-smelling democracy (and freedom and safety, et al) and thus the fervent resistance. Now, the hypocrisy is obvious and it makes for a poisoned selling environment. Americans would have had an easier time in this silly adventure when domestic social conditions were more appealing.
Iraqis get it. The world gets it. Americans do not.
Posted by dnc_1968, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 12:47:11 PM
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Greg ,you seem to have an aversion to economically growing democracies.The Greens and all the other weak kneed lefties have to realise that there is no way of reversing this juggernaught of human civilisation.We have to use our science and technology to find smarter ways of reducing environmental degradation and our pop.malaise.Democracy is flawed because we all don't have perfect knowledge or true perspective about what affects our lives.Democracy may be imperfect but look at the alternatives.Democracy isn't just about creating more markets for capitalist expansion.

The US went into Iraq because the Middle East has 65% of the world's oil.If Iraq brought choas to the Middle East,what do you think would happen to the world's economy that is so dependant on oil?Japan nor Europe wouldn't stand idlely by and starve.

The US is acting out of self interest but they are also doing the dirtywork for Europe, who just sit on the sidelines and snipe at those who are securing their future.
Posted by Arjay, Tuesday, 15 February 2005 10:17:03 PM
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Of course with the best intentions of the donors, the export of democracy has not always worked and whilst acknowledging Sarayet's list of successes we are left with some pitiful failures - many in Africa - The real irony was most (Black) Southern Rhodesians were better off under Ian Smiths Minority White rule than the quarter century of Mugabe corruption and incompetence. Another Irony - most of the rest of Africa was economically stable with effective government and only descended into the charnel house of horror after democratic self rule was dispensed and replaced by tribal dictatorships.

What is the remedy - re-colonialisation?

Oh finally, the real problem is not "debt relief" - it is "despot relief".
Posted by Col Rouge, Wednesday, 16 February 2005 8:32:58 AM
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