Can democracy be exported? (original) (raw)

There is no richer field of academic research in contemporary comparative government and politics than the study of democracy imposition or exportation. This is so because the promotion and support of democracy as a foreign policy objective of the Western countries, especially the United States, has been on since the end of the World War II. While international bilateral and multilateral cooperation have proven to be useful strategies in promoting democracy across the globe, the use of armed invasion to export or impose democracy on previously non democratic societies is problematic. Complications arising from imposition of democracy on another society through armed invasion is explained by the fact that apart from democracy been popularly seen as having a universal reach, its success in any society is only dependent upon the domestic need, social values, cultural factors, and tradition, historical events, and the genuine commitment of the people to democratic ideals. This paper argues that imposition of democracy on a society through armed invasion compromises democratic tenets, hence, generates civil strife and threatens global security. However, it can be supported to grow from within societies through foreign and international aid policies and programmes. This is because such support deepens the diffusion of democratic values and boosts domestic support and commitment which is the thrust upon which democracy thrives.