Comments on: The Dangers of Democratization http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2009/09/23/the-dangers-of-democratization/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-dangers-of-democratization n. the principle of good order<br /><br /> "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:25:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brett http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2009/09/23/the-dangers-of-democratization/comment-page-1/#comment-33839 Brett Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:07:56 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=10132#comment-33839 <blockquote>Were the governments of Jordan and Egypt to become mass democracies tomorrow, it is likely that peace between those states and Israel would not last long.</blockquote> It depends. I imagine any trade and diplomatic negotiations would end pretty quick, and you'd see some bellowing at the Arab League meetings. On the other hand, breaking the peace would be highly dangerous, and I can't see either Jordan or Egypt going that far even if they were democratic states. Sidenote - a democratic Jordan would be a Palestinian-dominated Jordan, most likely, since more than 60% of all Jordanians are of Palestinian descent. This would have some interesting consequences.

Were the governments of Jordan and Egypt to become mass democracies tomorrow, it is likely that peace between those states and Israel would not last long.

It depends. I imagine any trade and diplomatic negotiations would end pretty quick, and you’d see some bellowing at the Arab League meetings. On the other hand, breaking the peace would be highly dangerous, and I can’t see either Jordan or Egypt going that far even if they were democratic states.

Sidenote – a democratic Jordan would be a Palestinian-dominated Jordan, most likely, since more than 60% of all Jordanians are of Palestinian descent. This would have some interesting consequences.

]]> By: BarryD http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2009/09/23/the-dangers-of-democratization/comment-page-1/#comment-33836 BarryD Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:20:02 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=10132#comment-33836 "Surely the elections in Gaza should tell us that democratization allows people with deep grievances to vent them by empowering the most extreme and radical elements. " I disagree. There is a huge difference between the people in Gaza, and the people in Egypt and Jordan. The people of Gaza have been really, really f*cked with by Israel. They are basically living in a concentration camp (in the original British sense of the world). Some of the people of Egypt, at most, are indirectly affected by Israel. Many people in Jordan are somwhat affected, but very few as directly as in Gaza. “Surely the elections in Gaza should tell us that democratization allows people with deep grievances to vent them by empowering the most extreme and radical elements. ”

I disagree. There is a huge difference between the people in Gaza, and the people in Egypt and Jordan. The people of Gaza have been really, really f*cked with by Israel. They are basically living in a concentration camp (in the original British sense of the world). Some of the people of Egypt, at most, are indirectly affected by Israel. Many people in Jordan are somwhat affected, but very few as directly as in Gaza.

]]> By: Rowan http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2009/09/23/the-dangers-of-democratization/comment-page-1/#comment-33823 Rowan Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:37:31 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/?p=10132#comment-33823 Daniel, your implication here seems to be that democracy is inherently less stable than authoritarian rule, which seems a rather strong statement. Or are you saying that the process of democratization would be the major cause of instability? That seems to be more likely to me. Daniel, your implication here seems to be that democracy is inherently less stable than authoritarian rule, which seems a rather strong statement. Or are you saying that the process of democratization would be the major cause of instability? That seems to be more likely to me.

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