By Ralph A. Kuiper

The United States should promote democracy, but first we have to learn how, according to Michael McFaul, professor of political science and director of the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University.

McFaul drew on his research on democratization and regime change in nondemocratic states for his Los Altos main library address, “Promoting Democracy: Can We? Should We?” last month to the Peninsula Chapter of the World Affairs Council.

President George W. Bush has made democratization a key element in his foreign policy, asserting that democratic ideals will counter the spread of terrorist ideologies. McFaul, however, reported that polls show Americans don’t think that promoting democracy reduces terrorist threats.

McFaul said that promoting democracy was the right thing to do, because it is the best form of government - democratic nations do not go to war with other democracies, do not mistreat their citizens, economic growth thrives in democracies and history shows that security is enhanced when nations are democratically governed.

McFaul said the United States is incompetent at democratizing and thus must create the expertise, resources and understanding to achieve the desired results.

Nations and nonstate groups resist outside forces, and regional influences and ideologies are dominant factors, said McFaul, adding that it is critical to support dialogue and exchange of ideas as a more effective approach than conflict. He pointed to successes in Ukraine and Georgia as examples and supported the idea of opening an embassy in Iran.

Democracies are transparent, McFaul said, while in totalitarian countries only the church or Mosque typically provides the venue for idea exchanges - and they can frequently serve as havens for radicals.

McFaul said that the United States is good at the “demolition” function, but that we are incapable of planning or implementing democratization afterward. He said that on the day the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in Iraq, senior members of the administration were speculating on what should be done next.

Gen. John Abizaid has made the point that the global war on terror is 10 percent military and 90 percent ideology and institutional, and yet, McFaul said, the U.S. defense budget is $450 billion.

To develop the expertise and understanding the United States needs, McFaul said he sponsors a summer fellows program for academic and political leaders from other countries to discuss the global challenges for democratization.

The next Peninsula Chapter of the World Affairs Council event, cosponsored by the Los Altos Library, is scheduled 7 p.m. today at the library, 13 S. San Antonio Road. Stanford political science professor Kenneth Schultz will discuss “Bullets and Ballots: War, Foreign Policy and U.S. National Elections.”

Ralph Kuiper is chairman of the Peninsula Chapter of the World Affairs Council. For more information, visit

www.itsyourworld.org.