The question to be addressed herein is whether or not the United States should promote democratization in countries that have not previously experienced democracy, and the related issue of whether this kind of intervention in the affairs of an autonomous nation-state are appropriate. In 1982, former President Ronald Reagan wrote that "Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings" (Evans, 1). Since that time, all American presidents have incorporated the idea of democracy promotion into their foreign policy agenda, with varying degrees of success (Ivins, 2). The argument to be advanced herein is that promotion of democratic institutions and processes is a desirable activity, but for democracy to succeed in taking root, a country and its people must embrace it and adapt many of its institutions to their indigenous culture. Consequently, the American model of a democratic republic may not necessarily be replicable in all instances.
According to Paula Dobriansky (1), the Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs, promoting democracy is a key component of the U.S. national security strategy, which calls for "the rule of law, limits on the absolute power of the state, free speech, freedom of worship, equal justice, respect for women, religious and ethnic tolerance, and respect for private property." These are the key components subsumed within the American concept of democracy. Such components are not, however, indigenous to many countries and cultures across the world.
Stuart Copeland (1) points out that in many different countries, including Iraq, where American efforts to promote democracy are underway, there are no traditions that support these components and there are many longstanding cultural elements that actively oppose democratization. Defining democracy is generally, said Copeland (1), based on the American and British model of a government ...