General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Here's a question. WARNING: Violent video images included. [View all]Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)snip* Two headlines emerged from Freedom Houses just-released annual report, Freedom in the World: an eighth consecutive year of decline in democracy around the world and a leadership gap among the community of democratic nations, most notably the United States. Fifty-four countries registered declines in political rights and civil liberties, compared to only 40 countries that saw gains in those areas, according to the study.
Equally disturbing, the report decries the lack of pushback against the modern authoritarian challenge posed by regimes in Moscow, Beijing, and elsewhere and laments the receding role played in particular by the United States in supporting democratization around the world. If there is no reassertion of American leadership, the report notes, we could find ourselves at some future time deploring lost opportunities rather than celebrating a major breakthrough for freedom.
These two negative headlines beg the question about what is to be done. But instead of offering recommendations on what the United States needs to do, let me suggest a list of seven things we need to stop doingseven donts, if you will. After all, one must end the harm that has been done to the cause of promoting freedom and human rights before one can proceed to any to-do list.
1. Dont think that in todays interconnected world threats to democracy and freedom elsewhere pose no threat to our own democracy and interests, or to those of our allies. The nature of regimes and societies matters, and threats to democracy, even in seemingly far-off places, can wind up hurting us.
2. Dont fall for the false choice between staying out of difficult situations entirely, on the one hand, and sending in hundreds of thousands of American soldiers, on the other. There are many things we can do in between those extremes to support moderate, democratic forcesthings like funding activists and showing solidarity by meeting with them and, yes, sometimes even limited military action (such as taking out Assads airstrips and planes, which we should have done long ago, when the Syrian opposition was less divided and not as extreme). This recommendation doesnt mean putting troops on the ground. It would be nice to do this with allies, but the United States usually has to lead. (Frances positive role in Mali last year is an
important exception to that rule.)
remainder: http://www.freedomhouse.org/blog/promoting-freedom-seven-donts#.Uvkf0oX535M