Major Works Add to list Added to list

The Contradictions of Democratization by Force: The Case of Iraq

More informationLess information

The article uses the Iraq example to show that the project of imposing democracy from outside by force is inherently contradictory and likely to fail, for reasons that go beyond the particular circumstances of the country or the Middle East. The paper then reviews a number of historical cases that have been supposed to show that democracy can result from armed invasion, and concludes that this was only so because in no case was imposing democracy the prime purpose of an invasion. Finally, it draws attention to the consequences for the quality of democracy at home in the countries most responsible for seeking to export democracy by force of arms.

Full text
‘The Contradictions of Democratization by Force: The Case of Iraq’, DavidBeethamDemocratization, 16 (3) (2009): 443–454. © 2009 Taylor & Francis. Reprinted by permission of Taylor & Francis Ltd,

Table of Contents

locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles