Democratic Peace

Term Paper # 116744

Political Science
Political Science > Political Theory

Democratic Peace

An explanation of the characteristics that go towards creating a democratic state.

1,661 words () | 10 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the truth about democracy, and how to live peaceably within it. The paper describes the characteristics and features that go towards creating a democratic state, explaining that, although different governments can set up their constitutional structures in different ways, they can remain Democracies if they adhere to fundamental political principles such as the ability of citizens to participate in the Democratic process of electing leaders. The paper also discusses the spread of democracy to other countries by peaceful means.

Outline:
Definition of the Term
The Characteristics of a Liberal Democratic System
The Features of the Democratic System that Foster Peace
The Ability to Transfer Peace Components to Other Countries

From the Paper:

"Democracy, and living peaceably within a Democracy, has been developed and studied, repeated and altered, but all versions of Democracy still boil down to the same fundamental truths, and fundamental tenets. For all the structural, politicking, and bureaucratic associations with and definitions of Democracy, the ideal and the ability to emulate Democracy is at the end of the day, still an art. It is, as research calls, it "the art of living together as citizens." This art is based on participation, or in today's world we might call it common feedback. Democracy is in its simplest terms considered the fairest form of government. But why is that? Participation is the key to Democracy, and represents the rights of the citizen best expressed, and protected when each individual takes a meaningful level of active participation in the Democratic process. The concern in our nation, and the language of maintaining Democracy, according to research, is teaching to the youth. The ideals of Democracy have to be inculcated in the youth so that they can learn to apply the principles they have integrated as they turn into adults. And practicing Democracy when an individual member of the public does reach adulthood represents the means by which all citizens "honor the fundamental democratic principle that people ought to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives."

Sample of Sources Used:

Alexander, Marcus. (2007) "Determinants of social capital: new evidence on religion, diversity and structural change.(Notes and Comments)." British Journal of Political Science 37.2 p. 368.
Brown, L. Carl. (2007) "Middle East - Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty." Foreign Affairs 86.2 (March-April 2007): 178.
Demenchonok, Edward. (2007) "From a state of war to perpetual peace.(Part I: Global Justice, Democracy, and Universal Dialogue)." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology 66.1 p. 25.
Gallagher, Chris W. (2008) "Democratic policy making and the arts of engagement: if the public schools are the primary instrument of transmitting and preserving democratic values, shouldn't they themselves enjoy freedom and self-determination? Mr. Gallagher reports on Nebraska's efforts to buck the tide of outside control and test-based accountability to keep democracy in public education." Phi Delta Kappan 89.5 p. 340.
Gheissari, Ali and Nasr,Vali. (2006) Democracy in Iran: History and the Quest for Liberty. Oxford University Press