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  • Essay / Is the spread of democracy in the national interest of the United States?

    The Truman Doctrine established a policy of containment against communist governments. People believed that the spread of communism would overthrow the democratic ideals that our country believed in and followed. After the end of the containment policy, a new policy of spreading democracy emerged. This new policy has both positive and negative effects on the “helped” nations and on our own. In 2011, there were 115 electoral democracies, representing nearly sixty percent of the world's governments that were democratic. In 1989, only 41 percent of all governments were democratic (Current Issues, 2011-12, p. 168). So, is the spread of democracy in the national interest of the United States? Or should our nation take a more hands-off approach? The textbook defines democracy as a system of government in which the people govern; govern by the greatest number. One of the fundamental beliefs of democracy is that ordinary people want to govern and are capable of governing themselves (Greenberg & Page, 2011, p.4). The textbook indicates that political thinkers attribute several components of democracy to its widespread appeal. First, democracy is considered the best protection of human rights because it is based on the recognition of the intrinsic value and equality of human beings. Second, democracies are most likely to develop rational policies because they can rely on a body of knowledge to make decisions. Third, democracies are durable and more stable because their leaders are elected and accountable to voters. Fourth, democracy is considered the best government when it comes to economic growth and material well-being. Finally, democracy leaves its citizens free, which creates a state of mind allowing them to best develop their talents and skills. (Greenberg & Page, 2011, p.4). As stated, democracy is...... middle of paper ...... eaters should propagate democracy. March 1998. Web. December 1, 2011. .Greenberg, Edward S. and Benjamin I. Page. The fight for democracy. 10th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print “Democracy and Human Rights.” Current issues. Ed. Joe Geraghty. 35th ed. Alexandria: Close Up, 2011. 168-81. Print.Lagon, Mark P. Promoting Democracy: The Why and How for the United States and the International Community. Representative Council on Foreign Relations, February 2011. Web. December 2, 2011. .Coyne, Christopher J. and Tamara Coffman Witte. Can we export democracy? Rep. CATO Institute, January-February. 2008. Internet. December 2. 2011. .