Toward a New Strategic Vision

The next President of the United States is anyone’s guess at the present time, but what should unite all the candidates currently running, and indeed what should unite the Western World, is the continued pursuit of spreading democracy and liberty throughout the world. The recent oppression of Tibet by China, exposed by the upcoming Beijing Summer Olympics has highlighted just how dark so much of the world remains in terms of fundamental human rights and representative government.

Following the end of the Cold War, the spread of liberal democracy seemed unstoppable as the Soviet Empire crumbled under its own weight and elections were held in countries that suffered decades of occupation and oppression. However, events would prove that liberal democracy is not an inevitability. There was a fear of taking on the responsibility of “nation building” as Yugoslavia descended into turmoil and bloodshed. The lopsided victory in liberating Kuwait from Saddam’s clutches in 1991 similarly did not make the West eager for the task of democracy promotion.

My hope and intention would be that liberal democracies the world over would focus their foreign policy objectives on the promotion of free elections, human rights, and free markets. Sadly, many who enjoy the bounties of democracy as a result of nation building are those who are least eager to spread democracy elsewhere (i.e., Germany, France, and Italy most notably). America remains the world’s best hope for the spread of freedom and liberty, but the two Democrat nominees remaining seem intent on withdrawing from the world militarily (Iraq) and in trade and commerce (NAFTA & Doha).

Therefore it is my opinion that John McCain has the opportunity to present a new strategic vision for America and, indeed, for the world in a renewed effort of liberalization for governments around the globe. While there are currently a number of international institutions that might make such an effort possible, none currently exist that would be formidable and at the same time legitimate. By legitimate, I mean not tainted by the presence of tyrants and despots who are legitimized in the United Nations and World Trade Organization.

I do not intend that this essay be a bashing session against the United Nations, but any casual observer can clearly see that the UN has failed as a guarantor of peace, a promoter of freedom, and a forum of civility and international relations. From the Oil-for-Food Scandal to Bosnia to Rwanda to East Timor to Sierra Leone, the United Nations has failed to protect innocents from slaughter and has failed to promote the spread and enjoyment of freedom and human rights.

Instead, I would propose a new international body composed only of true democracies who guarantee the fundamental pillars of freedom: speech, religion, rule of law (search & seizure and fair trial), peaceable assembly, free press, fair elections, and equal protection. Call it the League of Democracies, the Democratic Union, the Democratic Alliance or whatever. So long as countries qualify by having the central pillars of human rights and a representative government, they would be welcome to join but could also face expulsion from a simple majority vote by member nations. Membership would not be permitted to those “theocracies” or semi-democracies that give the illusion of representative government while securing power for a minority of oligarchs or aristocrats.

This new organization could also be used to promote trade liberalization that goes beyond “most favored nation” status that has been abused by many nations in the WTO and UN (i.e., Russia and China). The organization would not be as susceptible to abuse, nor would it be co-opted as a platform for tyrants to rant of their hatred for Israel and the United States.

But most importantly, this organization could function as a grand coalition of the willing. I have previously argued for a new organization to succeed NATO, and this organization would be of the same spirit. However, I fear that such a grand coalition would suffer the same paralysis NATO currently suffers from due to the large number of free riders that enjoy the Pax Americana without actively participating and contributing anything of use.

Nevertheless, the organization could provide a great deal of incentive in terms of trade, economic cooperation, international stability, human rights, and liberalization for countries toying with representative government and freedom. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and others would have added pressure to loosen their restraints on democracy and human rights activists.

China’s success in winning the Olympic bid for this year has made a mockery of the International Olympic Committee and the hope for a more peaceful and free world. While the torch makes its way around the world, the lives of Tibetans are being snuffed out and activists face Chinese thugs on the streets of Lhasa, Toronto, London, New York, and Paris.

A new president of the United States will have the opportunity to set a new course in foreign policy and the promotion of democracy worldwide. The next president will similarly have the opportunity to coddle tyrants or oppose them, to acquiesce with dictators or resist them at every turn. If Reagan taught us anything, it is that a threat to freedom anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere.