Imposed Democracy
If democracy is an asset of mankind that should be distributed among all the nations on the globe, in no matter what circumstances it would find a chance to prevail in any countries.
In this context we may think that the history used WWII as a chance to diffuse democracy to Japan and West Germany.
But can we think that the history has used the War on Terror as a chance to diffuse democracy into Iraq and Afghanistan while other Islamic states, such as Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, are struggling to establish their version of democracy through a kind of revolution?
Against All Odds?
The History of Imposed Democracy & the Future of Iraq & Afghanistan
Andrew J. Enterline
Univ. of North Texas
Dept. of Political Science
Box 305340
Denton, TX 76203-5340
ajenter@unt.edu
J. Michael Greig
Univ. of North Texas
Dept. of Political Science
Box 305340
Denton, TX 76203-5340
greig@unt.edu
...
Weighing heavily upon the success of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan is not only the way in which democracy is cultivated, but also the environment in which democracy is being fostered. West Germany and Japan represent near ideal cases for the successful imposition of democracy, due to their high levels of prosperity and low levels of ethnic and religious differences. Yet, this is not the case in Iraq and Afghanistan, two states that are sharply divided across ethnic and religious lines. The challenge of building lasting democracy is all the more pronounced in Iraq and Afghanistan due to their lower levels of economic development relative to West Germany and Japan, leaving fewer resources to divide amongst contending groups within both societies. This challenge is particularly acute in Afghanistan, a state that is among the poorest in the world. Without significant improvement in the economic performance of Afghanistan, it is difficult to envision the long-term survival of democracy.
While the post-invasion insurgency in Afghanistan and sectarian violence in Iraq portend a perilous future for democratic institutions in each state, one counter argument is that while democracy might fall prey to anti-democratic forces in the short-term, the process of imposition will spark inexorable momentum toward democratic institutions in the long-term. As such, history might judge the attempts to impose democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq more kindly once long-term democratic success counterbalances initial failure. However, our analysis of the longterm implications of imposed democratic regimes suggests that historically these expectations are not borne out. Rather, the likelihood of democracy returning to these two states is significantly lower than had the United States and its allies not imposed democratic institutions. Quite simply, despite the considerable challenges faced by the current efforts to cultivate democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is the key moment for the establishment of democracy in both states. If the current efforts at democracy fail, it is unlikely that there will be a second chance at democracy in either state in the foreseeable future....http://www.psci.unt.edu/enterline/against-all-odds-v5.pdf
Or we might have to think why the US could develop such democracy as can be a legitimate reason for its wars against other countries.
Anyway it was neither the UK nor France, both of which tried to keep colonies even after WWII in Asia but the US that had democracy and other cultural and political conditions to help Japan and West Germany develop the so-called imposed democracy.
Indeed, the US is a superpower of democracy rather than of military capability.
So, the key to understanding issues concerning imported democracy can be found in the US itself rather than in countries, such as Japan, West Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan, which were destined to receive democracy from the US.
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Mar 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
Mar 7:32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
Mar 7:33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
Mar 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.