Reaching for Democracy

Crowds surged through streets of Kiev, Tbilisi, Beirut and Bishkek. Millions of men and women defied threats to stand in line and vote freely in Baghdad, Kabul and Ramallah. All of them asked for the same thing: democracy.

We saw them marching for democracy through the streets of former Soviet capitals such as Kiev and Tbilisi. Millions more defied threats of violence and lined up to cast their first democratic votes in Kabul and Baghdad.

In parts of the world that had long been ruled by despots, or those who still believe a one-party state can control the lives of mankind, a vast outpouring of people reaching out for democracy stunned the world in the past two years.

One picture summed it up: in the cold dark night of Tbilisi, Georgia, as people marched towards the seat of government to protest a fraudulent election, one firm hand held up a model of the Statue of Liberty. Millions are asking for the rights that statue represents: elections to choose their leaders and freedom of speech, press and religion.

The newly elected governments face an enormous burden. They must respond to the needs of the people, and provide the services of the modern nation such as roads, electricity, health and education.

Governments must eliminate the corruption and nepotism that drain the economy. They must be accountable to the public for their spending and their actions. In short— governments must learn to govern justly. Many people watched in wonder as the multicolored revolutions took place—the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Rose in Georgia, the Cedar in Lebanon, the Tulip in Kyrgyzstan. Each country had a different form of government but all were denying people a chance to chose new leaders through fair elections.

Few realized that for years, the United States and other countries and organizations have been supporting this homegrown desire for democracy. Support for democracy around the world is not new. It has been a key part of U.S. foreign policy since the end of World War I, when President Wilson promoted democratic self-determination for Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Romania. 

After World War II, the United States helped write democratic constitutions for defeated Germany and Japan—which remain democratic today.

When post-war Western Europe—weakened by war—appeared vulnerable to communism or fascism, the United States began the Marshall Plan in 1948 to rebuild its economies. All nations that got help are democratic today, from Finland to Portugal.

In 1961, U.S. foreign aid agencies were combined into the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which focused on helping development in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Among the advances towards democracy the United States supported were the following:

● Over time, South Korea, Taiwan,Thailand, the Philippines and many other countries adopted democratic systems.

● In the 1980s and 1990s, Latin America changed most of its leftist or rightist authoritarian governments—Chile, Brazil, Nicaragua and El Salvador for example—to elected democracies with free press and multi-party politics.

● Then, after the fall of communism, U.S. democracy assistance helped Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltics, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary revive or create new democratic systems.

● In Indonesia, President Suharto quit in 1999 amid public protests, after 25 years in power. The country became the world’s third most populous democracy in 2004 when it held landmark direct presidential and legislative elections.

THE NEW WAVE

The colorful revolutions were created by citizens from Ukraine to Lebanon, with U.S. and other support. Ukrainian journalists, five years before the Orange Revolution, were trained by U.S.-supported groups to deliver balanced, fair reports on politics; to investigate and report on government abuse; and to throw a spotlight on fraudulent elections.

Georgian political parties learned how to organize and register their voters, train election observers, prepare party platforms and communicate their agendas to the public. Lebanese and Kyrgyz non-government organization (NGOs) got help from U.S. NGOs such as the American Bar Association, Eurasia Foundation and Freedom House. These groups trained people on legal issues, elections, human rights and media.

The United States was the main supporter of democracy around the world, along with the European Union and other donors. For years, America realized that economic and social development were unlikely to take place unless people can investigate how their governments operate, voice complaints, and ultimately change their leaders through free and fair elections.

The fallen rulers in some countries may blame “outside interference” for their defeat. But U.S. and other democracy aid only serves as a source of ideas and inspiration. The real work of creating democracy is carried out by courageous and committed people within the countries undergoing change. Unless people are ready for democracy, no amount of aid can make a difference.

As the dust settled on the new democratic revolutions, U.S. and other donors helped new governments carry out promises to serve honestly and fairly. International advisors helped national and local officials in many countries to write tax laws, fight corruption, revive private markets, open up government to public scrutiny and create city councils accountable to voters.

Democracy is nothing new. The word describes the ancient Greek city states, meaning “authority of the people.” It has existed in many cultures throughout recorded history: Panchayat village councils of India; Buddhist Councils of India and China; Japan’s 7th Century constitution; and American Indian councils.

In the 13th century, the English King John signed the Magna Carta, foundation of British-American democracy, but it took hundreds of years of before its ideas were applied to all citizens. And every democratic country continues to defend and extend democratic rights.

More than 180 countries have signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing people the right to chose their own government. But it is difficult to support democracy where the leaders have no tolerance for it. Burma, North Korea and other countries will not allow freedom or those who support it to enter their borders. War and turmoil in Somalia, Congo and other countries make it difficult to support democratic institutions.

Furthermore, China and Vietnam allow economic freedom but permit only limited rights to replace some local leaders. However the United States remains committed to support homegrown movements that seek freedom.

This magazine tells the story of the recent explosion of democratic values in several corners of the world. It’s the story of courageous people who seized the chance to reform and improve their own societies. One thing remains clear: while U.S. and other aid can help local people overseas strengthen their democratic political parties, conduct elections and improve their government, it is only when citizens and local leaders in each country decide to change things that countries move from authoritarian rule towards democracy.

Visit Democracy Rising, September 2005 Download Pages

Democracy Rising was published by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs. It was written and researched by Ben Barber, designed by Nan Dearborn, and photo research was by Claire McIntyre, Kristina Stefanova, and Kyle McNeely.

Download Democracy Rising, September 2005

PDF format, 4.2MB, 28Pages.

ORANGE REVOLUTION
Peaceful Protest
Ukrainian riot police never attacked protestors, whose orange balloons symbolized their call for democracy, November 27 2004. Page 8

Overview: In a new wave of mass demands for democracy in the past two years, millions defied threats—from Kiev to Ramallah to Bishkek—demonstrating or simply voting in their first free elections. 2

Post-Soviet Revolutions
Georgia: The Rose Revolution swept the old regime of Eduard Schevardnadze from power as thousands demanded an end to corrupt elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Ukraine: After the government rigged election results, a million people joined the Orange Revolution, leading to a new election won by Viktor Yushchenko. . . . .8

Kyrgyzstan: In the Tulip Revolution, angry crowds in Osh and the capital Bishkek swiftly ousted the government of Askar Akayev after election fraud. New voting followed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Near East Democracy
Lebanon: The Cedar Revolution broke out as almost a million people demanded free elections and an end to Syrian occupation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

West Bank/Gaza: The death of Yasser Arafat in 2004 led to new Palestinian elections, widely seen as legitimate, for president and local councils. Legislative campaigning began in the West Bank and Gaza. 18

Iraq: Defying threats, millions voted in January 2005, for a new government coalition in one of the most free and fair elections ever held in the region. . . . . .20

Afghanistan: Loya Jirga traditional councils wrote a constitution and set up elections—8 million voted, nearly half of them women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Legacy of Change
Democracy Takes Root: The new revolutions follow decades of progress in Latin America, Africa and Asia, ending dictatorial rule and nurturing governments chosen by the voters. . . . . 23

Strategy: The $1.2 billion annual USAID democracy aid budget is based on a four point strategy tailored to assist each country. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

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