May 27, 2004
BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT...:
Not yet nyet to democracy: After the chaotic 1990s, Russians put a premium on stability. (Scott Peterson, 5/28/04, The Christian Science Monitor)
Deep in the heart of their national psyche, do Russians really yearn for democracy?Several surveys appear to show that Russians prefer authoritarian order to democracy. One poll found that 53 percent of Russians opposed democracy, while 22 percent favored it.
But the story behind those numbers, as well as other poll results, complicate that view. While Russians want stability - a condition that President Vladimir Putin is widely credited with restoring - Russians are also attached to democratic values.
"There's a battle of data, and everybody cites their favorite poll," says Michael McFaul, a Russia expert at Stanford University, who began canvassing Russian opinions more than a decade ago.
"The big picture is, if you ask Russians about the actual practice of democracy - Should there be a separation of powers? Should people vote for their leaders? Should there be independent media? - a two-thirds majority say yes," says Mr. McFaul. "But when you ask about their experience with democracy, it's been very negative, because folks that called themselves democrats are perceived as having failed in the 1990s."
Two hundred years ago it was blacks who were incapable of democracy, then Catholics, then Asians, then Slavs, then Africans, etc., etc., etc....now it's Muslims. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 27, 2004 8:51 PM
The Slavs are largely Christian...
You yourself have said that Sunni Muslims may have extreme difficulties reconciling religion and democracy.
Not to mention, the article that was posted recently, written by a Muslim living in the West, saying the same thing.
Posted by: Michael Herdegen at May 27, 2004 10:39 PMsome difficulty is not incapability
Posted by: oj at May 27, 2004 10:49 PMWho out there is really saying that Muslims are incapable of democracy? This is such a straw man argument.
The naysayers are just saying that the Bush administration has failed to put the basic building block in place to truly form a stable democracy - namely a secure environment. that will be relatively free of armed coercion.
Personally, I was on the fence on whether we'd be able to help the Iraqis pull it off, but it sure ain't looking good right now.
Posted by: Brennan at May 28, 2004 12:24 AM"Two hundred years ago it was blacks who were incapable of democracy"
True,just look at Detroit and Washintong D.C. today!
"then Catholics"
Everybody knows catholic Latin America's long and noble democratic tradition.Democracy must meld really well with Aztec spiritual traditions.
"then Asians"
Too true,just look at Japan,Singapore,Malaysia,Indonesia,the Phillipines,I mean,what a track record!
"then Slavs"
G. Washinton's got nothing on Vlad Putin when it comes to a true and deep commitment to democratic values.
"then Africans"
Africa's democracies are truly awe inspiring,aren't they?
"now it's Muslims"
Not to mention the most enlightened rule of law in history.
*sigh* We have so,so much to learn,don't we?
Posted by: Reality at May 28, 2004 5:55 AMChicago did fine under Harold Washington, as did Atlanta under many black mayors.
Catholic Chile and Costa Rica have no problems with democracy, neither does Catholic Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Poland, Ireland or Slovenia.
Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and yes, Japan, Singapore, and Phillipines are all democratic with regular and contested elections. Phillipines are the most suspect in that regard, but they ousted Marcos back in '86 and have done much better without him than with his kleptocracy.
And for the Slavs, doesn't Poland (wow, both Slavic and Catholic, why didn't anyone tell Lech Walesa he was being such a bad Pole), Czech Republic, Hungary, or Georgia count as democratic? Maybe you should tell the Georgians to bring back Shevrednadze.
And while Africa has many problems, black South Africa is still doing fine, and there are some success stories like Botswana.
Democracy is not easy and requires various cultural traits. However, there is no evidence that any of the designations OJ used prevents those people from upholding democracy. Some states that are Catholic, Asian, Slavic, or others may have other problems preventing them from being a stable democracy, but those things of themselves are obviously not a failing factor.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at May 28, 2004 1:19 PM