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We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force. In the past, it has been movements for freedom from within tyrannical regimes that have led to flourishing democracies; movements that continue today. This doesn’t mean abandoning our values and ideals; wherever we can, it’s in our interest to help foster democracy through the diplomatic and economic resources at our disposal. But even as we provide such help, we should be clear that the institutions of democracy – free markets, a free press, a strong civil society – cannot be built overnight, and they cannot be built at the end of a barrel of a gun.
~~ Barack Obama ~~

This is a very true and factual quote. Democracy is not something you can build overnight. While sometimes it may be possible to impose democracy on a country through military force, such an imposed democracy is unlikely to be successful unless a vast majority of the people of that country are convinced that the democratic form of government is in their best interests. In a true democracy, the willing participation of the people and their firm belief in the institutions of democracy is essential. And that can not be achieved through the barrel of a gun.

The best way to propagate democracy in any country is to educate and convince the people of that country the benefits of democracy; a task easier said than done. Probably a bit faster and more productive way to promote democracy may be to apply gentle political and economic pressure to convince the rulers of the autocratic countries to move towards democracy. Again, very slow and not an easy process but certainly much less expensive and less disruptive than flexing military muscle.

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