Introduction

The theory and practice of democracy as a system of governing has had more critics than advocates; from the Ancient Greeks to the American Federalists (who both feared mob rule), to Hitler's National Socialist Movement (which, although initially elected to power, advocated that those with the strongest personalities and finest minds govern their inferiors), to contemporary libertarians (who value individual liberty above all else). Despite this, over the last century or so the tide of thinking has turned towards favouring democratic forms of government. But it is only since the end of the cold war that attitudes to democracy have shifted to the point where it is possible to claim that democratic government is a universal value, perhaps even a right. The prevailing image in the twenty-first century is that of inexorable progress towards a world full of democratic states. Some writers have gone so far as advocating a right to intervene in undemocratic countries to ensure that the march of democracy is complete, reaching even the darkest corners of the globe. While there remains considerable controversy about the specific meaning and requirements of democracy, its significance and status as an ideal mode of government are rarely questioned. This shift in attitudes extends beyond the domestic arena of the nation state to include calls for greater democratisation at the international level in intergovernmental institutions and non-government organisations.

Democracy-building has become a popular international remedy for states that are emerging from conflict.