Democratic Peace

Thesis that suggests liberal democratic states do not go to war with one another. Democratic peace has gained much support in the past two decades. However, the thesis makes no hypothesis about whether democratic states are less likely to go to war with nondemocratic states.

The reasons for the maintenance of peace among democratic states are varied. Some suggest that peace is maintained because in democratic states the people have a larger say in whether to go to war, and, they [Page 193]argue, the people en masse are less likely to decide to go to war. Others emphasize that what really prevents democratic states from going to war is that they are, on average, wealthier states, and, as such, are less likely to risk losing this wealth through war.

Alternatively, some suggest that it is not the shared tradition of democracy that prevents democratic states from going to war with one another, but rather the fact that most democratic states are on good terms with one another. They are friends, and this is what prevents the outbreak of war between them. Still others suggest that the norms and values of democratic states are such that conflict is usually resolved through peaceful means. Finally, some suggest that the increased transparency within the operations of democratic governments make states more secure in their knowledge of what other states are doing. Thus, they are less likely to harbor the sorts of suspicions that lead to war.

Democracy researcher Michael Doyle has attempted to empirically test the democratic-peace thesis. His findings suggest limited evidence in support of the democratic-peace thesis. During the past 200 years, democratic states have been much less inclined to go to war with one another, although democratic states are slightly more inclined to behave aggressively toward nondemocratic states. Critics question this empirical research, citing many concerns about sample size and the difficulty of defining a democratic state.

Regardless of the validity of the democratic-peace thesis, it has been critical in shaping U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Beginning most notably with the reconstruction of Germany and Japan after World War II, U.S. policies generally have pushed quite strongly for the establishment of liberal democracies in postconflict states and developing nations. Currently, establishing democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq, and, potentially, China is seen as a critical project for U.S. security and global peace, a testament to a belief in the democratic-peace thesis.