The Democratic Peace Theory

In our modern day world, or more accurately, western culture, democracy is seen as the greatest type of regime. Democracy represents a plethora of attractive features that promotes individual freedoms and allows citizens to control the government that represents them domestically and on the world stage. Because of their belief that democracy is the best form of government, most western nations seek to use their foreign influence to promote democratic norms and institutions. The argument for the promotion of democracy comes from the Democratic Peace Theory, which states that democracies do not go to war against one another. However, some foreign policy analysts would disagree that the promotion of democracy brings international peace for multiple

However, it states that democracies do not go to war, in part, due to the fact that they share similar values and liberal, or democratic, institutions. Thus, democratic regimes should have similar interests according to the theory. However, there are two main points that the theory does not answer for. First, as mentioned before, there is a large difference in the western and eastern ideologies. This difference in values and beliefs is going to make western and eastern democratic regimes have different interests on the international stage . One example comes in the form of Palestine. Although not a full democracy, there a many democratic practices in this region. Despite their democratic policies, they continue to have an agenda in opposition to western democracies. One particular issue that they vary on would be terrorism and what role it should have in the democratic issue. They are also in opposition to the U.S. policy in regards to Isreal . Both of these differences of opinion stem from the different ideologies each country subscribes to. Secondly, the most common attack against the Democratic Peace Theory by realist is the power argument. Countries act in ways that will best promote their power . In our current world, the best way to promote one’s own power is by aligning themselves with the hegemon, which is usually seen as the United States. One example of this would be the way the western world attempts to limit the rising power of Russia through economic sanctions. Ultimately, the Democratic Peace Theory does not explain why democracies go to war since it ignores that the potential for power and differing ideologies determine every regime type, including democracies, thus war is a possibility whenever ideologies are radically different and power can be gained through