From famous scholars,
such as Schumpeter in his Capitalism and Imperialism article in particular,
have praised that Liberal Democracy and Peace are inter-linked. They are
complemented each other. One provides regulation, rights and fundamental
freedoms and promoting participation and another creates stable situation for
free enterprise, encourages productions and personal incentive for innovation,
market economy or trading etc. Democracy produces just, stable society for
entrepreneurs to invest all types of economy in the country which after all
enhances growth, peace and stability, argued Schumpeter.[1]
The same thing
expressed by Francis in his ‘The End of History and the Last Man’ book, the end
of the Cold War signified the end of violent conflicts and wars and rather
peace seems to broke out in many parts of the world counting from former Soviet
States to Central Europe to Asia, and Latin America. This progressive momentum
creates greater peace for the whole regions and maybe the world.[2] As
also argued by Kant, because of a comfort zone ideal liberal states are less
likely to go to war and even among liberal states. This is because liberal
democratic states share the same principles of peaceful conflict resolution,
cooperation, and peaceful foreign policy. The winning of the U.S. over Soviet
Union in the Cold War claimed by some scholars was the result of U.S. good
policy, endorsing capitalism, and market economy plus promoting liberal
democracy core principles, and Soviet lost because of ill-policy of equality
for all, plan-economy and restricted rights and fundamental freedoms.[3] Established
and mature democratic states such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and many other
Western states are living in greater peace, growth and stability than anyone
else. Democracy is the motives for this positivism, for them.
However, another reality
that one cannot ignore and has witnessed is that democracy could also cause troubles
such as wars and conflicts as well. Through history democracy can be bought and
that only the rich can do it. Can a simple, ordinary guy with hundreds U.S.
dollars stand for the President Candidate or a Senator in America? The
principle claims “YES’ answer but the reality proves the contrast. Do you think
Legislatures in Cambodian National Assembly represent the poor or rich? Then
does capitalism promote or exploit liberal democracy? Put it differently liberal
democracy help capitalist to exploit people more effective? Hence, democracy
seems appeal to be not the best hope for our century.
