Nation Building (US/Iraq)

Akaoz · July 9, 2003, 02:28

Can it be done?

Is it possible for the US to implement a democracy in Iraq? I guess that partially depends on how they would react to an anti-US government shaping up under that same democracy...

Forced democratization of a large country with little or no democratic tradition/history has kind of been done before; in Germany after WWII. But that was maybe a bit different?

Any thoughts?

-Alech

Akaoz · July 9, 2003, 15:05

Let me guess: Talked to death?

Arrian · July 9, 2003, 15:15

It's been mentioned a time or two, yeah.

-Arrian

Sandman · July 9, 2003, 15:29

Their aggressive privatisation of Iraqi infrastructure (before any election) is hardly likely to stabilise the country. The Iraqis do have experience with the free market, there was undoubtably one co-existing with the state-owned sector. What they don't have is experience of large corporations entering the country on the back of the tanks.

laurentius · July 9, 2003, 16:37

Germany had a democratic tradition before WW2, you di however improve it and secured it.

Akaoz · July 9, 2003, 18:47

Quote:

Originally posted by laurentius
Germany had a democratic tradition before WW2, you di however improve it and secured it.

How do you mean? I suppose it depends on how you define "tradition"...

-Alech

Urban Ranger · July 10, 2003, 06:15

Highly unlikely

Seeker · July 10, 2003, 07:25

Wilhelmine Germany had some of the most liberal politics in Europe 1875-189?.

They were the first country to implement the welfare state.

They had vocal opposition parties with real power and press freedom equal to england or france.

Their problems began when Wilhelm II actually bought into his own propaganda, canned bismarck, alienated the British with naval colonial nonsense, and Russians, and cozied up to histories worst ally, Austria.

They should've let Bismarck groom a good chancellor, maintained an anti-Austria pro-Russia policy, not wasted time with a crash naval program when they could've become the worlds foremost airpower....oh well.

geeslaka · July 10, 2003, 07:43

I think it's possible but I don't think it will happen.

Jac de Molay · July 10, 2003, 08:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Akaoz
Forced democratization of a large country with little or no democratic tradition/history has kind of been done before; in Germany after WWII. But that was maybe a bit different?

But its irrelevant anyway unless they send......more.....troops- especially MP and civilian support. Kosovo, which is 1/40 the size of iraq, has 50,000 stationed and Iraq has, what, 150?

The stubborness in acknowledging the shortcomings and understaffing of the rebuilding is what's ultimately undermining the post-war effort. I can't believe they think they can pull this off on a shoestring. Shameful.

Q Classic · July 10, 2003, 08:31

germany also should have struck and crushed france and russia in 1905, thereby assuring its rise to regional hegemony in europe.

Kropotkin · July 10, 2003, 09:07

I don't thin one should focus to much on the importance of a democratic tradition in nation buildning. What Germany and Japan had in common after the war was that they where both ordered societies with traditions of organized bureaucracies. Without a administration that is objective and is not infected with corruption it's quite hard to build a democratic society. Not that a democratic tradition isn't without importance but my opinion is that you can't have a modern democracy without a state that works. This as opposed to a klepocratic state where the government and civil servants are doing things to better themselves or a minority, like a political or economic elite.