Promoting Democracy Abroad

Report of the Task Force on Peace and Security
United Nations Association/National Capital Area

October 2005

From November 2004 to June 2005, the UNA/NCA Task force on Peace and Security examined the policy of democracy promotion abroad.  The task force held five sessions and heard from a number of speakers.  Dick Rowson, a co-chairman of the task force and president of the Council for a Community of Democracies spoke on the origins and activities of the Community of Democracies and the creation of a UN Democracy Caucus.  Jennifer Windsor, executive Director of Freedom House, spoke on democratic trends and democracy promotion around the world.  Ambassador Mark Palmer gave a presentation based on his book Breaking the Real Axis of Evil, outlining his recommendations for eliminating the world’s remaining dictatorships.   Lt. General William Odom, former director of the National Security Agency and author of America’s Inadvertent Empire, spoke on the dangers of promoting democracy.   Ambassador Jonathan Dean, chairman of the task force, also spoke on the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel report, A More Secure World:  Our Shared Responsibility. 

Differing viewpoints arose from these task force discussions, as for example the exchange of views between General Odom, who opposed “democracy promotion,” and the other members of the task force.  Central to the disagreement was the relationship between liberalism and democracy.  All sides agreed that “liberal regimes inexorably become more democratic.”  The corollary, “that democratic regimes become more liberal,” was a source of contention.  General Odom argued that regimes that have the trappings of a democracy in a representative sense are not necessarily liberal, i.e. ensure property rights and rule of law.  Because of that, Odom contended that promoting liberalism ought to be the primary focus, since it would ultimately result in democracy.  The rest of the task force agreed that elections were only one component of democracy; however they were not ready to forsake the promotion of elections until a regime had liberal characteristics.  They argued that promotion of democracy entails encouraging both free elections and other trappings such as a free press and liberalism. While acknowledging the dangers of elections without established liberalism, some worried that it might be wrong to deny the human right to choose one’s own leaders until that point.  Questions arising from the debate would include: How strong is the link between liberalism and democracy (alternatively, democracy and liberalism)?  Can liberalism and democracy be separated?  Is liberalism a necessary precursor to democracy?  Will illiberal democracies become liberal?  Are illiberal democracies any safer internally or externally than authoritarian states?  Answers to these questions have consequences on methods and the direction of democracy promotion.  The full report of the task force can be found here, in our Democracy Library.