As I sit here in Korea and watch a speech by President Bush, I can't help but question our exportation of democracy. And when I say "ours," I mean the West. This isn't just Bush's view but a more widespread western view. It includes an assumption that democracy is the way to go and it is the best form of government. In social studies classes, we refer back to how the West has had a "superiority complex" in the past, particularly when looking the colonial era. But has that changed?
In the Cold War era, particularly in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the US in particular but also other European powers sought to stop the spread at communism at any cost. Dictatorships were fine as long as they were capitalists. Now, we have equated freedom to democracy, while these two things are distinctly different. History shows many forms of governments can be successful. Monarchies are quite out of style and undoubtedly had some issues in the past with a hereditary throne because let's face it, despite their genes some people aren't meant to lead. They just don't have the gift. And every leader in a democracy is excellent? Man/woman of the people?
In Athens, perhaps one of the first places to practice democracy, they warned of demogogues...people that were smooth talkers and could sway the masses, often on emotion. They knew with people's freedom and right to vote, there was a responsibility that had to be instilled in people, and for long term sustainability, into the culture. When we export democracy, are the people receiving it ready for it? Is it the best form of government for them? Can their culture embrace the founding ideologies of democracy in a way that benefits the nation and the overall good? I just ask the question...maybe the answer is yes. (I won't even get into Plato's philosopher-king concept although it fits into some of the questions above.)
Overall, this commentary and line of questioning comes from my opinion that we think we know more than anyone else. We think our knowledge has surpassed all others and we have taken "civilization" where no one has tread before. It seems quite often to be an unspoken and unackowledged assumption, but one that is present nonetheless. This seems a bit egotistical and ignorant to me, but then again, what do I really know. The ancient Sumerians in several thousand BC had libraries of books and all the mysteries of Egyptians still aren't solved/explained. The Phoenicians accomplished many seafaring feats without the GPS and engines we have today. Does that not take perhaps more skill? And still today some simple aboriginal or African bushmen live in secluded inhospitable places that few dare visit, yet they have done it for hundreds of years. The knowledge of astronomy that the Mayans and the Egyptians had was astounding. We should tread with great caution when we think we have the best and most advanced ideas ever. We might just turn out to look very foolish in the end...and who wants that?
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