What are some examples of one country promoting democracy? What are the benefits of the spread of democracy?

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Ashley Kannan eNotes educator| Certified Educator

One of the most overwhelming benefits to the spread of democracy is the idea of allowing difference to exist between individuals and cultures, enabling others to embrace and accept plurality and not prevent it.  Democratic orders have been the most prone to accepting the differences between individuals.  We can see this with the recent unity government that has been formed in Lebanon over the last couple of days.  Instead of the Western backed Hariri government versus Hezbollah seeking to dominate the nation, the recent unity government bridges these differences in the hopes of keeping the diverse fabric of the nation engaged and represented in the process of government.  In a growing heterogeneous and globalized world, I think that democracy is the only viable form of government that can sustain such diversity.

pohnpei397 eNotes educator| Certified Educator

A great deal of American foreign policy since World War II can be described as promoting democracy.  There are high-profile things like the current attempts to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan.  There are also much less-known things like a project my sister-in-law used to work on where the US was trying to help Uzbekistan build a better judicial system that would safeguard people's rights.

Those who want democracy spread believe that it is the best form of government and is most likely to protect people's natural rights.  Others argue that democracies are much less likely to fight wars of conquest.  So supporters of democracy believe it will bring rights to previously unfree people and will promote international peace and understanding.