Democratic Nation Essay

state in its ancient concept is a beautiful idea. It means a government by the nation and for the people. Democracy empowers the people regardless of their social status and it promises license to exercise ideas and to require the kind of spiritedness that we want. Democracy gives us a granting immunity of self-expression. immunity is much(prenominal) an important element of res publica directly in rail line to one-man rule of the dictatorial and authoritarian rule.Basham quoted from Welzel which says, at this point in history, nation has a positive image almost everywhere, except these favorable opinions argon often superficial, and unless they are accompanied by deeper-rooted orientations of tolerance, trust, and a participatory outlook, the chances are poor that effective democracy impart be present at the societal level (Basham, p. 3). Democracy as a semipolitical sort out that emerged in western and Asian countries almost centuries ago began to saturate the un scathed world.In this case, it is important to look into reasons why Iraq has to be democratic found on its political, social, and cultural corrects, as discussed below. Iraq has for many years been beneath commanding rule of Saddam Hussein and many of its citizens are dreaming of freedom under a democratic rule. Paul Woodruff asserts, no whizz sleeps head in tyranny because the tyrant knows no law, and he is a terror to his people (p. 64). In many democratic countries it was quite reason that citizens enjoys more freedom and self-expression than in non-democratic countries.Thus the blessings of democracy are that it guaranties our freedom to exercise our highest capacities while it protects us from our worst tendencies. (p. 3) As the rule of tyranny ended, Iraq is now underway to become a democratic country under the guidance of the United States. But the imposing question is can Iraq vanquish the challenges it faces to become a democratic nation? As we all know, Iraq spe nd a penny not emerged til now completely from the rubbles of destruction brought about by the state of war against the US led coalition to oust the tyrant ruler.Frequent dangerous bombings that are killing many innocent people continues to pose threat to the safety of its people and of everyone which are clear indications that the fangs of tyranny are yet alive and giving signal of its desire to regain their power. The case of afghanistan reminds us of the tyrannical rule of the Taliban who were toppled by the US backed anti Taliban Afghan forces but they remain a threat to the reign of peace and freedom in the Afghan people.Aside from the unstable political and social condition in Iraq that poses challenge to existing political and social structure, Hugh Starkey noted that the extirpation of individuals and even groups, by war and the dire economic conditions as well as the political movements based on ethnic, religious and narrowly patriot ideologist (p. 23) not only poses challenge but expose democracy as well.But amidst this political and social problem, Starkey emphasized the use up of breeding in general, and education for citizenship in particular if Iraq has to embrace democracy, for it provide the chemical mechanism for transmitting those core shared values that are essential if sound and peaceful democratic societies are to be develop (p. 23). It means that the challenges that threaten the existing political and social structure and the democracy can be subdue if an intensified educational approach are implemented think both on the education in general and education for citizenship in particular.An new(prenominal) question that needs answer is whether Iraq is prepared politically, socially, and culturally for democracy. In the survey conducted by Freedom House conducted from 1981 to 2002 that measures the values and beliefs of people in seventy countries regarding the ships companys level of democracy. The survey concluded that for Mo slem countries, the prospects for democracy are particularly poor (Basham, p. 3). The reason for this finding was that, for Moslem people democracy is problematic but better than any other form of government.Though, they have a poor prospect for democracy but the chance for acceptability is positive. Another reason that has to be considered is that, Iraqis has anti-American cerebration that is so pervasive though which, match to Ottaway, et. al, the Middle East at present lacks the domestic conditions that set the stage for democratic change elsewhere (cited by Basham, p. 4). Religion is another factor for non-democratization of Iraq in which many of the practices and tradition of people in the democratic countries are very distinct from the Islamic faith.For instance, insularism of authority and rights of both gender marks the difference. Democracy is hinder to gender equality. Culturally, Iraq conmed to be unprepared for democratic. In another study conducted, of the 150 tr ibes in Iraq, seventy-five percent of them exercised the terms primordial allegiances. In one representative of this according to Basham is that, most Iraqis view political nepotism as a object lesson duty rather than a civic problem (p.5), as such a strong family bonds is still prevalent as in marriages mingled with first or second cousins is still of significance in the society.This societys condition is another hindrance in the democratization of Iraq according to Basham. Accordingly, the greater challenge that Iraq faces is the challenge of democracy it self. Audrey Osler noted that even in the most proudly democratic societies, significant inequalities remain sections of the population by chance marginalized and anti democratic forces misuse freedom of speech to promote xenophobia and ultranationalistic populism (p. 23).Democracy is often identified with what the traditional societies see in it, what they see in democracy is a cultural devastation caused by American-style freedoms (p. 6). comprehend democracy therefore could mean allowing western values of economic and oddly political freedom to dominate the society. Thus, the question that must be answered is Does Iraq need democracy? Certainly democracy is not the immediate answer to the political and social problem of Iraq but in the end it will baffle more economic benefits, peace, and social order.As Bruce M. Russett puts it, in the modern foreign system, democracies have almost never fought each other (p. 4). What Russett meant for this is that democracies rarely skirmish each other because they have other means of resolving conflict. Therefore, the more democracies there are in the world the fewer potential adversaries will have the wider the zone of peace (p. 4). Ayers noted, Iraqis are cognizant of their situation yet they remain to what they are because of fear out of distrust to Americans and democratic life (p. 5).