2005/09/27 by Bruce Russett · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Political Conflict and Governance #Global Peace and Security Dynamics #Peacebuilding and International Security #Democracy #Democratization #Authoritarianism #Peacekeeping #Political science #Principal (computer security) #Variety (cybernetics) #Political economy #Power (physics) #Democracy promotion #International community #International relations #Intervention (counseling) #Development economics #Public administration #Sociology #Law #Politics #Economics #Psychology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1528-3577.2005.00217.x
openalex publication_date 2005/09/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
The invasion of Iraq has been justified, ex post, as for the purpose of promoting the democratic peace. It does not, however, appear to have been a principal goal ex ante. Most democratic peace theorists, moreover, do not endorse democratic regime change by great-power external military intervention. Success is difficult to achieve (usually at high cost), and the conditions in Iraq were not promising even had the occupation been carried out more competently. Greater success in democratization has been achieved by UN peacekeeping operations, and by various regional international organizations using a variety of peaceful measures to ensure free elections, constrain authoritarian leaders, and empower democratic forces. International organizations, notably those whose membership is largely composed of democracies, are especially likely to succeed in promoting democracy.