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America has become a nation viewed as a symbol of democracy. In particular, its core beliefs of liberty and freedom have made America obtain a unique “mission” to spread democracy globally (Bouchet 2013, p. 33). The key message that democracy elsewhere would achieve mutual benefit for both America and the foreign nation is integral to its foreign policy, utilised through military or political policies (Bouchet 2013, p. 33). However, its duty of expanding democracy is seen by some as maintaining America’s security and position as a superpower, which has resulted in the promotion of democracy by hard power such as military intervention overseas witnessed during the Cold War and with the aftermath of 9/11 and subsequent ‘War on Terror’.
America’s belief in universal values of democracy and liberty combined with its special mission resulted in its military and political intervention during the Cold War. The Cold War, described as an ideological battle between capitalism (America) and communism (USSR) created an atmosphere of instability, which was detrimental to the U.S if communism values reigned (Bouchet 2013, p. 39). As such, the creation of policies such as aid and diplomacy was used to assist and enact institutionalise democracy overseas. In the 1960s, aid policies contained democratic principles in order to prevent developing countries from joining a communist path (Bouchet 2013, p. 49). Additionally, the U.S government created schemes to set free elections and facilitate democracy such as the judicial system in South America (Bouchet 2013, p. 46). Victories of democracy were observed in the Filipino presidential election of 1986 which overthrew dictator Ferdinand Marcos and in 1987, the first free election in South Korea. In the 1990s, after the fall of communism, economic and political assistance by America on former communist nations were focused on establishing democracy and ensuring security. USAID began to be politicised and focus on democracy-building, with nations aimed to achieve ‘good-governance’ in areas of law, civil society, free elections and freedom of information. These government programmes which facilitated democracy in foreign nations were considered “the most extensive, systematic effort” by the U.S (Bouchet 2013, p. 48).
While soft power has been used to build democracy, the use of hard power such as indirect military intervention has been witnessed during the Cold War in order to maintain America’s position hegemony, often in forceful ‘regime changes’. Although the U.S has engaged famously in military wars such as the Korean and Vietnam war, it has also used covert and overt military means in order to overthrow foreign governments. For example, Cuba was one target of regime change after Fidel Castro, a communist had overthrown the American-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in January 1959, despite Cuban public support. Five months later in May, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) began training anti-Castro soldiers with arms and supported Cuban bombings and raids (Chomsky 2013, p. 613). More infamously was the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by the Kennedy administration in 1961, which attempted to oust Castro’s government. As such, America has indirectly supported military programs such as the CIA to arm opposition groups in order to seek regime change to protect the security of itself rather than to peacefully promote democracy.
Though America’s use of policies and indirect military activities can be seen as an extension of its democratic mission during the Cold War, policies were vital in the institutionalisation of democracy overseas. Policies enabled democracy-building and good governance while indirect military support undermined its democracy message in favour of stability and security.
In the aftermath of 9/11, America’s democracy mission was used as a disguise for retribution and resources in wars which involved the Middle-East under the threat of ‘terror’. With the attack of September 11 in 2001, which killed thousands of people both American citizens and overseas visitors, democratic America and ultimately world peace was seen as under threat by Middle-eastern terrorists. This led to the War in Afghanistan, under the pretence of a “just-war”, in retribution of the 9/11 attacks, which was criticised by the majority of the world as posturing of America’s power (Chomsky 2013, p. 617). International organisations such as the United Nations and aid agencies also attempted to prevent the invasion with concerns that it would largely affect civilian populations from U.S bombing and the elimination of food aid (Chomsky 2013, p. 617). As such, the invasion of Afghanistan was largely seen rather than democracy-building, a method of posturing and retaliation to the attacks of 9/11 with little support the international community to the benefit of world peace.
Another case which utilised the War on Terror was the war and occupation of Iraq, where the former leader, Sadam Hussein was accused of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The potential danger of WMDs saw U.S government officials label Hussein as a “terrorist threat”, who had the power to cause mass killings within Iraq and potentially in the West, with the U.S intervention in 2004 (Chomsky 2013, p. 609). The war also simultaneously saw the U.S retrieve Iraq’s energy resources, which secured long-term economic benefits for America (Chomsky 2013, p. 609). Though it was found that Hussein had no WMDs, the fall of a dictator seemed to achieve America’s initial goal of democracy, with an opening of political debates and subsequent free election in 2005 (Dalacoura 2005, p. 971). However, while these have been seen as victories, it seems a minor success in comparison to the increase of factional wars and ethnic divisions, with an Islamisation of Iraqi politics (Dalacoura 2005, p. 971). As such, the initial achievement of democratic reform in Iraq, from the fall of Hussein and increase in political participation, has been undermined by America’s material gains from the war and a growing sectarian division.
America’s foreign policy can be summarised as a protector and promoter of democracy globally, witnessed throughout the Cold War and more recently in the ‘War on Terror’. Tools like government policies have been carried out with the aims of democracy-building in foreign nations and world peace to much success. However, America’s use of the military both covertly and overtly have been criticised as under the guise of regime-change and posturing in cases such as Cuba and the Middle-East. This has undermined its democracy image and instead as a tool to achieve forceful stability in order to protect America’s hegemony from security and economic threats on the international stage.
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