Gov Module 17
What are some critiques of the democratic peace theory?
Critiques of democratic peace theory: - states transitioning to democracy engage in more conflict - common enemy constitutes peace - great power settlements constitutes peace
How and why has Democracy Promotion been a more or less important element within U.S. foreign policy over the years?
Democracy promotion ensures American security. In order to contain communism and deter terrorism, the US promotes democracy.
What is democracy? Describe Robert Dahl's three "procedural minimal" conditions of democracy.
Democracy: state with competitive elections - electoral competition - individual freedoms - universal suffrage
What is the democratic peace theory? How do the factors that contribute to democracy's influence over foreign policy in general - electoral constraints, institutional constraints on power such as checks and balances, and a shared democratic identity - help to explain, in particular, peaceful relations between democracies?
Democratic peace theory: military conflict is less likely between to democratic states - electoral constraints raise the political costs of war - institutional constraints make peace settlements more durable by solving the commitment problem - shared democratic identity externalizes norms of compromise and decreases public support for war with a fellow democracy
Describe historical waves of democracy and the possible causes of these waves such as demonstration effects, neighborhood effects, conditionality of international organizations, and the influence of hegemons.
Demonstration effects: similar behaviors and events taken by different actors in different locations to recreate outcomes of success in other states Neighborhood effects: tendency of states to emulate the level of democracy of their neighboring states Conditionality of IO: creates powerful incentives for elites to adopt democratic reforms in order to enjoy the economic and political benefits of membership in powerful organizations Influence of hegemons: influence the international politics within their sphere of influence
Discuss how restrictions on voting rights affected American democracy. How has expanded voting rights affected descriptive representation of women and ethnic minorities? How has universal suffrage affected election outcomes?
Restrictions on voting rights limited true democracy in America by leaving elections up to only 6% (rich, white, males) of the population. Expanded voting rights has allowed and encouraged women and minorities to vote for people that "look like them." Universal suffrage has affected election outcomes by deciding who majority of the vote goes to.
Describe some of the efforts by the United States to promote democracy around the world. What are the political challenges associated with American efforts to promote democracy? What are the benefits associated with promoting democracy around the world?
The US has tried to promote democracy through: - Woodrow Wilson expanding democracies in Europe after WWI - Cold War to beat communism - collapse of communism due to Cold War - intervention in the Middle East to deter terrorism Some political challenges are intervening legitimately and expending resources. Benefits include more cooperation, national security, and less conflict.
According to the Krasner reading, what are the two main tendencies within US foreign policy regarding democracy promotion and dealing with authoritarian regimes? What third option does Krasner propose in how the U.S. should deal with long-standing dictatorships?
Two main tendencies of US foreign policy: - military intervention (hands on) - let America be example to other states (hands off) Third option: good enough governance (middle ground between the 2 tendencies)