The idea of an enlightened state furthering enlightened principles is attractive. Yet, it is also fraught with risk. Take Iraq, where American ideals of liberty and Bush’s doctrine of crusading for democracy have justified Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and the uncounted (and probably countless) deaths of Iraqis. Indeed, the American misadventure in Iraq has soured the taste of many for democracy itself. As Daniel Henninger, deputy editor of the WSJ, recently pointed out, “democracy has been demoted.”
There is one more problem with an enlightened state. Whose values will it apply? Some argue that we can all agree on certain universal values, such as democracy. Yet, even that cannot be universal if a large portion of the world's population is not living in a democracy and many do not seem to care or know better. As Teresita Schaffer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out even democracies such as America and India do not agree on its value to others:
Both nations have different views about how their common democratic heritage should affect foreign policy. For Americans, it is natural to want to advance democracy. For India, however, democracy is not necessarily a product suitable for export....one aspect of India’s anti-colonial history that remains strong is its passionate commitment to maintaining and respecting national sovereignty. India not only resists external interference, but is reluctant to make a public issue of other countries’ systems of government.
So perhaps democracy and all other values are only conditionally universal. If that is the case, then it is better to have many states deciding which values to pursue, rather than having one state - enlightened or not - doing so for the rest of us.
It is here that Burma's loss underlines a gain for the rest of us.
This is the first time in recent history that India has supported a patently dictatorial regime. In that, it follows America's example of realist foreign policy and support for a long line of dictators. But my point is not to prove America's hypocrisy. Rather, it is to illustrate that America no longer has the monopoly on propping up dictators. What is remarkable about this situation is not whether the Asian view is wrong, but that it is the Asian view - correct or not - that prevailed.
Article comments
1 - Sam
"India itself supports the violent actions of Sri Lanka's current government"
And so India should, after arming, training and funding one of the most deadliest terror groups in the world - the Tamil Tigers.
2 - Marcia L. Neil
Of course, the 'K. C.' in 'K. C. and the Sunshine Band' includes others, too, apart from the Chinese anthropology author. Consider whether, now, the monk shown in a photo dead and lying in water is a relative of the monk said to be stabbed in Golden Gate Park, within the city boundaries of San Francisco, CA, peninsula -- while what? Fielding demands to have an accurate bloodline history from the Chang family? Are we all supposed to vote that they be interrogated until they die somewhere -- is that democracy in action?
3 - moonraven
The most important statement in this piece is that this is the FIRST time India has supported a patently dictatorial regime.
OPENLY supported, maybe.
What about all the patently dictatorial regimes that the US has OPENLY supported:
Papa Doc and Baby Doc
The Somozas, Father and Son
Trujillo
Batista
Pinochet (they put him in power)
ALL The Various Argentinian Generals}
Fredinand Marcos
The Shah
Saddam Hussein (he was their guy longer than when he wasn't their guy anymore)
Pérez Jiménez in Venezuela (even received a MEDAL from Ike)
Several in Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay
Ditto for Bolivia (Hugo Banzer more than once)
and a LOOOOOOOOOOONG list of etceteras--including almost next door in Pakistan.
THe US putting sanctions in Myanmar is just bullshit.
Give me a break.
The US has spread tyranny and dictatorships around the planet like peanut butter.
4 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
"The US has spread tyranny and dictatorships around the planet like peanut butter."
You like that line, don't you, Marthe?
You don't mind if I use it in my own pieces, do you, since Blogcritics will not pay you for any articles you post?
It is a great line - and I feel an article coming on.....
Have a good week,
Reuven
PS I remembered reading in my Time/LIFE books long ago that Venezuela had a dictator who was a stutterer - that was Pérez Jiménez.
PPS If you really do want credit for the line, just sing out...
Reuven
5 - moonraven
Hi, Ruvy.
Please quote me, since you know the name I write under. I despise peanut butter--it is just so insipidly gringo.)
Pérez Jiménez was the Venezuelan dictator who received the Legion of Merit (US's highest civilian honor) from the hands of DD Eisenhower.
I believe that makes my point very nicely.
Thanks.