Democratization as a United States Strategy for Middle East Security
Abstract
President George W. Bush, in a speech to the National Endowment for Democracy in November 2003, announced the United States' forward strategy of freedom for the Middle East. From Thomas Jefferson's "empire of democracy" to Woodrow Wilson's "the world must be made safe for democracy, American presidents have long recognized that security and world order are advanced by pluralistic government. Yet one region of the world, the Middle East and specifically Arab states has lagged behind the rest of the world in adopting democratic rule. Since September 11, 2001, the United States has increasingly promoted democratization in the Middle East as a strategy for regional security and to reduce the threat of global terrorism emerging from the region. Is democratic reform an achievable goal or a symbolic agenda doomed to failure in a part of the world that is impervious to such reform? The SRP will analyze the broader challenges of democratic reform in the Middle East and analyze the strategic ends, ways, and means to combat terrorism and achieve regional stability. It will also analyze programs such as the Broader Middle East Initiative as a tool to promote political and economic reform.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA433675
Entities
People
- John C. Buss
Organizations
- United States Army War College