Democracy is Not a Suicide Pact By Amitai Etzioni

"Some realists argue that if the United States promotes democracy in places such as Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the opening up of these polities would lead to more Islamist states. Thus democratization would damage U.S. interests, installing even more oppressive regimes in the nations involved—regimes that will promote terrorism in other nations to boot. Some “un-realists” argue that the United States should accept such a risk because theocracies are like childhood diseases that nations may have to endure before they can grow up to become democratic.

There is a third way: Opening polities gradually, initially allowing only pro-democratic forces to participate until they are able to compete with the already well-established Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Some are much less prepared than others to cope with unrestricted political pluralism. Such nations need a transition period; they cannot jump from the tribal politics of the Stone Age—or from hyper-oppressive regimes—to well-functioning democracies."

Full Article...

Sphere: Related Content