Liberal Democracy

1. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


1

“Freedom, democracy and Apple pie”
1
– Has America succeeded in exporting
liberal democracy?
“… [I]t is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic
movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending
tyranny in our world.”
- George W. Bush, Inaugural Address, January 20, 2005
2

The end of the Second World War marked a watershed in international relations, destabilising
the balance of power once held by previously deemed unstoppable European nations.
Essentially, 1945 ushered in the beginning of a new epoch in which the world would see the
rise of the USA as global hegemon and the foundation of a platform from which the USA
could export its political ideology, liberal democracy.
3
Certainly, continuous presidential
administrations, most notably that of George. W. Bush, have sought to extrapolate the
seemingly successful model from which the USA was conceived (as a result of the American
civil war and the constitution which followed). This essay proposes an examination of one of
America’s most controversial foreign policy objectives, the export of liberal democracy.
Essentially, arguing that whilst the USA has had some remarkable successes exporting liberal
democracy, its policy remains American centric (henceforth it hasn’t been as successful as it
perhaps could have been).
Has the export of liberal democracy been one of the United States’ greatest foreign policy
successes? Certainly, if one is to evaluate the U.S.’s contribution to democratisation in the
immediate aftermath of World War Two, particularly for West Germany and Japan, it is easy
to see that the USA had successfully triumphed in asserting its programme of liberal
democracy.
4
Coyne’s After War: The Political Economy of Exporting Democracy documents
the above mentioned attempts as overall successes which, it is argued, are directly and
indirectly attributed to both the unconditional surrender of both nations, as well as continued

1
Walt, S. M. (2014) “Democracy, Freedom and Apple Pie aren’t a foreign policy,” retrieved 27
th
July 2014
from:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/07/01/american_values_are_to_blame_for_the_worlds_chaos_dem
ocracy_human_rights_ukraine_iraq?wp_login_redirect=0
2
Bush, G. W. Inaugural Address, January 20, 2005 retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050120-1.html
3
Of course, the very subject of this essay presupposes that the American model is both liberal and democratic.
4
This is not to say that the United States have been the sole executors of this liberal crusade, but rather they
have been the major driving force in shaping the current world order.

2. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


2

direct military intervention.
5
In essence, it is clear that liberal democracy thrived in these
nations because both America and the nations in which it had intervened wholeheartedly
committed to achieving success. Critically, the U.S. has often failed to replicate its success in
Japan and West Germany. This view is advocated by Malone who infers that America’s
failure to acknowledge the importance of devoting considerable attention towards democracy
for long periods of time has effectively hindered its ability to promote liberal democracy.
6

Despite this major flaw, America has, since 1945, overseen the transition of numerous states,
a trend which will undoubtedly continue as states seek to replicate the economic and political
successes of the USA. Henceforth, given that the world is now home to 117 democracies, it is
clear that America’s ability to export has been wide-reaching.
Moreover, exporting liberal democracy has proved to be an extremely useful foreign policy
initiative in order to persuade both its own citizens as well as others that the American way is
the best way. That is, the mantra adopted by the USA infers that states and the people who
reside in them are deemed unfree so long as they decline the democratic agenda.
7

Unequivocally, the Western construct of democracy has come to embody the end point which
must be achieved by nations in order for them to be truly “modern.”
8
Certainly, to the
oppressed, liberal democracy evokes the strong belief that freedom is on the horizon and with
freedom comes opportunities to challenge the individual’s social status, allowing for possible
elevation through the rights to education, free market etc.
9
Liberal democracy, then, has been
used as a marketing tool to persuade U.S. citizens (and people across the world) of the
validity of wars (e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan). In particular, the “Bush Doctrine” placed a
noticeably strong emphasis on the right of Iraqi citizens to have liberal democracy in order to
advance the war in Iraq. Essentially, by playing on the democratic agenda Bush was able to
effectively highlight the need for a war to occur, thus reifying the success of this foreign

5
Coyne, C. J. (2006) After War: The Political Economy of Exporting Democracy Chapter 1 Can Liberal
Democracy Be Exported at Gunpoint?, retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/pboettke/workshop/archives/fall06/Coyne_-_After_War_-_Chapter_1.pdf Pg. 5.
6
Malone, M. F. T. Can the United States Export Democracy?, retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://www.unh.edu/discovery/sites/unh.edu.discovery/files/dialogue/2007/pdf/ud-packet_malone.pdf Pg. 3.
7
Lynn-Jones, S. M. (1998) “Why the US should spread democracy” Discussion Paper 98-07, Center for
Science and International Affairs, Harvard University retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/2830/why_the_united_states_should_spread_democracy.html
8
Bilgin, P.“Thinking past Western IR?” Third World Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2008, Pg.1.
9
The Arab Spring is clear evidence to suggest that people have been bought over by the ideals of liberal
democracy.

3. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


3

policy for the agenda of the USA. That is, to “promote democracy as a means to achieve
security, stability, and prosperity for the entire world.”
10

Conversely, there is argument to suggest that America’s attempt to export this commodity has
been plagued with failure.
11
Of course, this can largely be attributed to the fact that American
foreign policy has strived to extrapolate the domestic into the international. Thus, America
aims to utilise Liberalism as a means of reconstructing the world in its own image and
likeness. Of course, other democratic nations view this as a means to an end in the sense that
democratisation is a progression towards peace. Paradoxically, liberal democracy is being
undermined by the market forces which were created as a result of its inception (states are
struggling to remain within the influence of voters).
12
This “guaranteed” peace is a recurring
feature of Fukuyama’s the End of History which stresses an unabashed victory of political
and economic liberalism worldwide (essentially exporting democracy is seen as the ultimate
weapon of war).
13
Effectively it is argued that America has set a course for a period of global
democratic homogeneity. In particular, it is often stated that democracies do not fight other
democracies. This view championed by Fukuyama presumed that liberal democracy in itself
represents the end point of the human capacity to develop another form of government.
14

Whilst it is increasingly hard to conceptualise other forms of human government, as the
imperfections of liberal democracy become increasingly apparent (idea that the vote is not
representative etc.) America’s mission will become ever increasingly more difficult.
Critically, the complacency here presented by Fukuyama concerning the superiority of the
American model typifies the arrogance of American foreign policy and moreover serves to
undermine America’s international position (America’s motives are often misconstrued by
“enemy” nations).
Arguably, the USA’s liberal democratic crusade echoes previous attempts by European
nations and religious bodies to try and remake the world according to self-proscribed ideals

10
U.S. Dept. of State (2014) Democracy, retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/democ/
11
I have described liberal democracy as a commodity because its effects on the American economy are
profound (new trading partners etc).
12
Hobsbawm, E. (2005) The dangers of exporting democracy, retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/22/usa.comment
13
Fukuyama, F. (1989) “The End of History?” The National Interest 16.4 (Summer): 3–18.
14
Ibid.

4. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


4

(e.g. the Roman Catholic conquest and Nazi Fascism).
15
Considering that these previous
crusades were effectively terminated raises the question, can the liberal democratic crusade
continue? Of course, there is an argument to suggest that whilst the United States is no longer
the powerhouse it once was, liberal democracy itself will continue to thrive as the world
population continues to demand freedom, education and the free market. However, this will
only happen if the U.S. can overcome its international image as “Empire builder,” instead
allowing nations to decide their own course of action.
16
However, considering America’s
historical record, this seems unlikely. Moreover, America faces a moral dilemma through the
execution of its foreign policy objective; that is in order to support new liberal democracies it
must itself exercise liberal democratic policies. This is fine when a state is willing to accept
liberal democracy. However, in the face of aggression America often struggles to project the
self-same ideals it wishes to export.
17
Iraq and Afghanistan highlight the ineffectiveness of
military action (rebel pockets continue to challenge American intervention). Certainly,
America has faced wide-spread criticism for its motives in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
18

Interestingly, it is not just “rogue” nations who happen to challenge America’s domination of
the democratisation process; one must also consider America’s allies. This is to say that the
European Union has essentially overtaken the U.S. as the most successful promoter of liberal
democracy. Whilst, the EU itself faces questions of democratic accountability, it has sought
to spread liberal democracy through the inclusion of European nations into an international
organisation.
19
Diplomacy, in effect, has replaced military intervention as the main driving
force behind democratisation of former Soviet satellite states. This in itself is of great
importance because military intervention has arguably hindered the spread of liberal
democracy for the U.S. One must also consider the irony of military intervention in order to
promote peace. That is, can America truly justify the slaughter of millions of innocent victims
in order to promote peace?
20
In particular, it is clear to see that in cases of military
intervention there have been many more failures than gains. A clear example can be found in

15
Hughes, D. A. (2014), Renaissance Catholicism and Contemporary Liberalism. Journal of Religious Ethics,
42: 45–77. doi: 10.1111/jore.12044
16
Ibid.
17
Walt, S. M. (2014) “Democracy, Freedom and Apple Pie aren’t a foreign policy,” retrieved 27
th
July 2014
18
Ruschmann, P. Marzilli, A. The War on Terror, Infobase Publishing, 1
st
edition, (New York,2005) Pg.63.
19
Greven, M. T. and Pauly, L. W. Democracy Beyond the State? The European Dilemma and the Emerging
Global Order, first edition, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, INC. (USA, 2000) Pg35.
20
Cox, M. Parmar, I. Soft power and US foreign policy theoretical, historical and contemporary perspectives
1947, Routledge, (London; New York: 2010) Pg.51.

5. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


5

the analysis of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst, the initial military operations proved
a success, the ability of the U.S. (and its allies) to reconstruct both states has failed
drastically.
21
Henceforth, free trade and democratic liberation have proven immensely
important incentives in the promotion of liberal democracy (America must strive to emulate
the EU’s efforts should it wish to remain the chief promoter of liberal democracy).
To conclude, American foreign policy has consistently been dominated by the democratic
imperative which has succeeded in establishing a “new world order” in the sense that it is
ever increasingly more difficult to find an alternative form of government which “allows for
individual expression, economic liberty and the freedom of speech.” However, it remains
strikingly easy to rebut America’s contribution toward world peace, via democratisation,
when one considers its consistent warmongering (and its failure to promote democracy in
countries such as Vietnam).
22
Kagan infers that liberal democracy has come to embody the
only form of legitimate government, America being to most legitimate of all.
23
Critically, it is
the legitimacy of the American government which is misconstrued.


Bibliography
Bilgin, P. “Thinking past Western IR?” Third World Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2008

Bush, G. W. Inaugural Address, January 20, 2005 retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050120-1.html

Coyne, C. J. (2006) After War: The Political Economy of Exporting Democracy Chapter 1
Can Liberal Democracy Be Exported at Gunpoint?, retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/pboettke/workshop/archives/fall06/Coyne_-_After_War_-
_Chapter_1.pdf

Coyne, C. J. (2008) Can we export democracy? Retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from:
http://www.cato.org/policy-report/januaryfebruary-2008/can-we-export-democracy


21
Coyne, C. J. (2006) After War: The Political Economy of Exporting Democracy Chapter 1 Can Liberal
Democracy Be Exported at Gunpoint? Pg.38.
22
Coyne, C. J. (2008) Can we export democracy? Retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from: http://www.cato.org/policy-
report/januaryfebruary-2008/can-we-export-democracy
23
Kagan, R. (2008) “Neocon Nation: Neoconservatism, c. 1776.” World Affairs (Spring). Retrieved 27
th
July
2014 from:http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/neocon-nation-neoconservatism-c-1776

6. Fiona Breen
University of East Anglia
International Relations and Modern History: Third Year


6

Cox, M. Parmar, I. Soft power and US foreign policy theoretical, historical and
contemporary perspectives 1947, Routledge, (London; New York: 2010)

Fukuyama, F. (1989) “The End of History?” The National Interest 16.4 (Summer): 3–18.

Greven, M. T. and Pauly, L. W. Democracy Beyond the State? The European Dilemma and
the Emerging Global Order, first edition, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, INC. (USA,
2000)

Hobsbawm, E. (2005) The dangers of exporting democracy, retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/22/usa.comment

Hughes, D. A. (2014), Renaissance Catholicism and Contemporary Liberalism. Journal of
Religious Ethics, 42: 45–77. doi: 10.1111/jore.12044
Kagan, R. (2008) “Neocon Nation: Neoconservatism, c. 1776.” World Affairs (Spring).
Retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/neocon-nation-
neoconservatism-c-1776

Lynn-Jones, S. M. (1998) “Why the US should spread democracy” Discussion Paper 98-
07, Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University retrieved 27
th
July 2014
from:
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/2830/why_the_united_states_should_spread_d
emocracy.html

Malone, M. F. T. Can the United States Export Democracy?, retrieved 27
th
July 2014 from:
http://www.unh.edu/discovery/sites/unh.edu.discovery/files/dialogue/2007/pdf/ud-
packet_malone.pdf
Ruschmann, P. Marzilli, A. The War on Terror, Infobase Publishing, 1
st
edition, (New
York,2005)
U.S. Dept. of State (2014) Democracy, retrieved 27
th
July 2014, from:
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/democ/

Walt, S. M. (2014) “Democracy, Freedom and Apple Pie aren’t a foreign policy,” retrieved
27
th
July 2014 from:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/07/01/american_values_are_to_blame_for_the_
worlds_chaos_democracy_human_rights_ukraine_iraq?wp_login_redirect=0