The Theory of Peaceful Democracies

January 30, 2006

Much has been said lately of democracies and peace. The theory is that democracies are peaceful. Many current nation builders use this theory to help rationalize the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

I have mixed feelings about this theory. I guess in the end I too believe it. At least I believe that democracies will be more peaceful than authoritarian forms of government. But I don’t think that democracies guarantee peace.

The best example would be the US. Grenada, Panama, and Iraq II were all outright invasions (we were supporters in Viet Nam, and there was a true coalition in Iraq I). Debates about the righteousness of those invasions can be waged forever, but they were invasions no matter what the rational. Another example is India. India is a democracy, but tensions and brinkmanship with Pakistan continues.

So if free elections result in the election of militant Islamic groups I don’t think it necessarily means that supporting democracy (in the Middle East) is a bad idea. It’s just not necessarily going to be what we like.