“Let’s spend a moment or two defining what we mean by freedom and democracy. There is a view sometimes expressed that “democracy” means the system of government evolved by the English-speaking peoples. Any departure from that is either a crime to be punished or a disease to be cured. I beg to differ from that point of view. Different societies develop different ways of conducting their affairs, and they do not need to resemble ours. And let us remember, after all, that American democracy after the War of Independence was compatible with slavery for three-quarters of a century and with the disenfranchisement of women for longer than that. Democracy is not born like the Phoenix. It comes in stages, and the stages and processes of development will differ from country to country, from society to society. The French cherish the curious illusion that they invented democracy, but since the great revolution of 1789, they have had two monarchies, two empires, two dictatorships, and at the last count, five republics. And I’m not sure that they’ve got it right yet”. –Bernard Lewis, Princeton University Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies, writing in Hillsdale College
In Nation Building, it takes time to establish a functioning government “in all respects” such as in social services, pensions, administrative procedures, by which I mean rules , and regulations in that this government” Iraq” could not even provide any these basic services by which ANY society needs in order to function.
Could it have been “other than external forces” that there was a failure by both the democrats, and republicans to for see such problems arising do to the political posturing of both sides?
The Turkish Empire did Nation Building, the Romans, China,Spain,England, and the list goes on.
Just to add some thing; Rice finally got the role of on how
The State Department should comport itself. (A little cyber applauding from me here. There is the over all policy to which State adheres too, and there is also management.)
I’m always rather suspicious of these sorts of arguments. They’re often used to make “cultural exceptions” for nasty governments and dictatorships, under the guise that they’re “democracy for “.
That said, there is a cultural element to definitions of freedom; in most of the world, it has far more responsibilities and such attached to it than it does in the US. As for democracy, the key point is there needs to be a legal, formal way to change the national leadership - and it needs to have happened at least a few times in history to qualify as a “functioning” democracy. If there isn’t, it isn’t a democracy.
“Any departure from that is either a crime to be punished or a disease to be cured.”
Some examples? I’m surprised that Lewis would write such a hysterical statement.
Great point by Foobarista: “I’m always rather suspicious of these sorts of arguments. They’re often used to make “cultural exceptions” for nasty governments and dictatorships, under the guise that they’re “democracy for “
now there’s a quote i can actually agree with ..