Freedom Concepts

The idea that certain people are incapable of democratic self rule or have no desire for it has a long pedigree in Western diplomatic thinking. 1

To suggest, as skeptics do, that the majority of people would freely choose to live in a fear society is to suggest that most of those who have tasted freedom would freely choose to return to slavery. 1

Freedom skeptics must understand that the democracy that hates you is less dangerous than the dictator who loves you. 1

Most dictators are best removed by the people they have oppressed, applying the techniques of strategic nonviolent protests. 3

The only security solution for the nations of the Middle East is to achieve democracy. 3

All state sponsors of terror are dictatorships, and all receive the backing of other dictators.  But dictatorships that are not on the State Department's list also have become fertile incubators of terror. 3

The critical factor that prevents democratic nations from fighting against each other is not the values that are particular to Democratic People's, but rather the fact that the power of a democratic government is ultimately dependent on the popular will. 1

To non democratic régimes, peace and war are merely interchangeable methods of subjugation.  One day staying in power will necessitate making peace.  The next, it will necessitate waging war.  That is why a genuine lasting peace can only be made with democracies. 1

National security equals the spread and protection of democracy. 3

We need to recognize that the world is really divided not between cultures, religions, or economies, but between democracies and dictators. 3

The first step for the Democrats outside dictatorships is to help encourage those inside to enunciate a positive vision of a world without dictators, with all of its benefits for peace, prosperity, and freedom; and to establish a deadline for all the dictators to go. 3

An essential part of this strategic paradigm shift is to elevate the promotion of democracy to the number one priority of national security, foreign policy, and international relations.  3

Democratic, elected politicians understand that a government is only legitimate if elected by the people.  Diplomats tend to think a government is legitimate, simply because it exists, even if it holds power against the clear will of its people. 3

The United States and world security will be greatly enhanced when all countries are democracies.

When you look at the world today, which countries are creating security problems in the world and the answer is almost exclusively dictatorships.

The myth has been promoted that dictatorships were better for poor developing countries to thrive than democracies.  This has been proven not to be true, and actually in most cases democracies in poor countries do better than dictatorships.  There are only about seven exceptions.

The major security violations and human rights transgressions around the world are concentrated almost exclusively in dictatorships.

Dictatorships control the world agenda because of all the problems they create.  The democracies of the world react to dictatorships rather than being proactive, and setting an agenda that is more positive for world security and prosperity.  This needs to end.

With the demise of dictatorships and autocracies, it will be possible for the world to experience a huge reduction in military expenditures including hopefully the elimination of nuclear weapons leading to the possibility of world peace.

The only realistic way to achieve world peace is to establish democracies with the rule of law in all countries of the world.  This is worth the effort.

Almost all people except the dictators and their associates wish and desire to be free

Democracy and human rights activists must do their part as well.  They need to do more than write, meet and criticize.  They must focus on ousting all dictators and instituting democracy, not just dramatizing the dictator's violations of human rights.  They must not be afraid of seeming political, which  means differentiating between dictatorships and democracies. 3

Our considerable philanthropic and business communities capacity has not been directed strongly enough towards ousting dictators and the promotion of democracy abroad, despite the fact that business would be a major beneficiary of a democratic world.  This needs to change.  One proof of seriousness would be a substantial increase in the budget for democracy promotion.3

While ousting the last 45 dictators does not all come down to money, they will go sooner and more peacefully if global funding directed at them -- public and private -- is materially increased.  This will require some structural adjustments.  As an integral part of the new presidential initiative, a senior-level presidential appointee needs to be solely tasked with Americans promotion of democracy abroad. 3

When you look at the world today, which countries are creating all the problems that are detrimental to peace, foster terrorism, genocide of their own populations, human rights abuses and more?  They are almost exclusively dictatorships or autocracies.

Americans need to start talking up the idea of democracy for the world and using the power of the people to promote democracy, much like what has recently happened in the Ukraine and Lebanon.  People power is very powerful, so we must use that power to promote peace.

Democracies perform consistently better on a range of social and economic development indicators than authoritarian governments.  They respond more rapidly to peoples need, they are adaptable, and they create checks and balances on government power that discourages reckless policies. 2

Development performance of the typical authoritarian government has been abysmal  By contrast, developing countries that adopt democratic institutions have posted consistently stronger economic results-providing more ample supplies of the basic goods like health, education, and food production. 2

Many of the above concepts may be found in the three books listed below

1. The Case for Democracy  by Natan Sharansky

2.The Democracy Advantage  by Halperin, Siegle and Weinstein

3.Breaking the Real Axis of Evil  by Ambassador Mark Palmer