"What difference does it make to the dead, the
orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name
of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy?"
―Mahatma Gandhi
―Mahatma Gandhi
USA claims to be, if not the only, but at least one
of the oldest democracies of the world. Dating back to 1776 when the 13 states
declared independence, since then, for 231 years, every leader has been elected
and there have been no kings, no queens, no military juntas, no conquerors and
no dictatorships. This version of history has been theoretically engraved in
books, online, everywhere.
USA has been so supportive of democracy that it has
vowed to spread it around the world. For
generations, American leaders have emphasized the promotion of
democracy abroad as a key element of America's international role and foreign
policy. President Woodrow Wilson announced
that America was fighting World War I "to make the world safe for
democracy." In the 1920s and 1930s, U.S. politicians cast the various
military interventions in the Caribbean and Central America as missions to
establish democracy. In World War II, America fought against fascist tyrannies
in the name of freedom.
However, the American definition of democracy is so narrow
and in their own image that it is natural if other countries do not follow it. The
aim of democracy is to provide liberty and freedom to the people. Ironically,
USA has been stealing exactly that. For instance, Iran. The teachings of peace
and prosperity preached by USA do not seem to match with its atrocious deeds.
3 comments:
I agree to what you have stated in your post about the narrow definition of democracy by U.S government. Indeed term democracy itself implies liberty and freedom of the people. It's ironic how the U.S government tries to promote peace and freedom at different forums but they themselves seem not to be following those trends.
I agree with you, Haya, that United States of America has claimed several times to be supporting democracy when in reality has been doing exactly opposite. I see no reason for America to interfere in the internal politics of other nation states but the only reason that comes to mind is the abundance of resources that the country has to offer that can be exploited by the Americans. All other reasons are excuses to invade the country.
Haya - You have raised some very important points. Specifically about how the American definition of democracy is very narrow. As emphasized by several scholars, there is no one, static definition or model of democracy that fits all.
You can look further in to this topic by examining the different perspectives about how the U.S foreign policy is perpetrating their specific interests that often go against the founding ideals of democracy. Moreover, do you think that the U.S foreign policy has very colonist and imperialist undertones to it?
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