Utpal Kumar
There is something intrinsically hypocritical about Western diplomacy when it comes to democracy. The Americans are particularly prone to the malaise. Historically, they are comfortable conducting businesses with autocrats and dictators. There are so many anecdotal instances where American politicians and diplomats showed their wearied disgust for the deliberative system in India, but preferred the men in khaki across India's western border and wilfully played Chinese checkers with Mao and his men.
Yet, every time an American diplomat meets an ally, especially of non-European origins, their discussion would invariably veer towards democracy, free and fair elections, and human rights.
Fareed Zakaria, in his book The Future of Freedom, mentions a similar incident surrounding then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Annoyed by persistent American exhortation on democracy, Mubarak reportedly asked, “If I were to do what you ask, Islamic fundamentalists will take over Egypt. Is that what you want?” Incidentally, Mubarak was one of the first casualties of the 2010-12 Arab Spring, and he was replaced by an Islamist leadership backed by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Saudis, too, have often reminded Americans that if they pressed their government too hard, “the likely alternative to the regime is not Jeffersonian democracy by a Taliban-style theocracy”.
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