It is hard enough to promote or save democracy when the public is relatively united in its desire to do so. The experience of the “color revolutions” in former Soviet Republics offers powerful evidence for that proposition.
It may seem almost impossible to do so when much of the public is disillusioned with the democratic system in which they live or when they are, at best, indifferent.
kAm$25=J[ :E =@@<D =:<6 E9:D :D E96 D:EF2E:@? ?@H 724:?8 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] (6 2C6 :? 2 >@>6?E H96?[ 2E 7:CDE 8=2?46[ :E D66>D E92E 56>@4C24J >FDE 36 D2G65 7C@> E96 A6@A=6[ ?@E 3J E96>] (6 92G6 D66? DF49 >@>6?ED 367@C6]k^Am
kAm~?=J E9:D E:>6[ :? @FC 6C2[ :E :D ?@E 4=62C E92E E96C6 :D 2?J@?6 3FE E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 42? D2G6 56>@4C24J] %9:D >:89E D66> 2? :>A@DD:3=6 5C62>[ 8:G6? E96 >2?J DE@C:6D E92E DF886DE E96J 2C6 ?@E C625J E@ E2<6 @? E92E E2D<]k^Am
kAm{2DE $2EFC52J[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ %96 }6H *@C< %:>6D AF3=:D965 E96 C6DF=ED @7 2? xAD@D A@== E92E 7@F?5 H:56DAC625 5:DD2E:D724E:@? H:E9 E96 A6C7@C>2?46 @7 @FC A@=:E:42= DJDE6>] xED E@A=:?6 7:?5:?8i ggT @7 p>6C:42?D 36=:6G6 :E :D “3C@<6?”j dhT E9:?< :E 92D 366? 3C@<6? “7@C 564256D]”k^Am
kAmx? 2 A@=:E:42==J A@=2C:K65 6C2[ E96 G:6HD @7 >6>36CD @7 E96 EH@ A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D H6C6 BF:E6 D:>:=2C — ghT @7 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 h`T @7 #6AF3=:42?D E9:?< E96 DJDE6> :D 3C@<6?]k^Am
kAm~E96C 7:?5:?8D 23@FE E96 AF3=:4’D G:6H @7 @FC 8@G6C?>6?E2= DJDE6> H6C6 2=>@DE 2D 8=@@>J — e_T 28C66 H:E9 E96 DE2E6>6?E E92E “%96 8@G6C?>6?E :D 2=>@DE 2=H2JD H2DE67F= 2?5 :?677:4:6?E” 2?5 faT D2J E92E “%96 8@G6C?>6?E :D >@DE=J H@C<:?8 E@ 36?67:E :ED6=7 2?5 E96 6=:E6D]”k^Am
kAm~?=J b_T 36=:6G6 E92E “%96 64@?@>:4 DJDE6> :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ :D 86?6C2==J 72:C E@ >@DE p>6C:42?D]”k^Am
kAmp?5[ 2E E96 DE2CE @7 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A’D E6C>[ E96 %:>6D C6A@CED E92E d`T @7 A6@A=6 2C6 6:E96C A6DD:>:DE:4[ H@CC:65[ @C 3@E9[ 2D E96J 4@?E6>A=2E6 E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD]k^Am
kAm~E96C A@==D 92G6 7@F?5 D:>:=2C 5:DD2E:D724E:@? 2?5 A6DD:>:D>]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 2 yF?6 a_ac DFCG6J 3J E96 !6H #6D62C49 r6?E6C C6A@CED 2 DE66A 564=:?6 :? D2E:D724E:@? H:E9 p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J D:?46 a_a`] x? E92E DEF5J[ egT @7 E96 C6DA@?56?ED D2:5 E96J H6C6 5:DD2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 H2J 56>@4C24J :D 4FCC6?E=J H@C<:?8]k^Am
kAm}@?6 @7 E9:D DF886DED E92E E96 p>6C:42? AF3=:4 H:== 36 62D:=J >@3:=:K65 :? E96 42FD6 @7 D2G:?8 56>@4C24J :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ] %92E H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 DFCAC:D65 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 7@F?565 @FC r@?DE:EFE:@?2= #6AF3=:4] x? 724E[ E96J E9@F89E E92E 56>@4C24J ?66565 E@ 36 D2G65 7C@> E96 A6@A=6[ H:E9 :ED AC6D6CG2E:@? 6?ECFDE65 E@ 2 425C6 @7 E96:C 36EE6CD]k^Am
kAm(C:E:?8 23@FE E96 56>@4C24:6D @7 E96 2?4:6?E H@C=5[ y2>6D |25:D@? D2:5 E96J H6C6 “DA64E24=6D @7 EFC3F=6?46 2?5 4@?E6?E:@? … :?4@>A2E:3=6 H:E9 A6CD@?2= D64FC:EJ @C E96 C:89ED @7 AC@A6CEJ …]”k^Am
kAm#6AC6D6?E2E:G6 56>@4C24J[ :? 4@?EC2DE[ H@F=5 “C67:?6 2?5 6?=2C86 E96 AF3=:4 G:6HD[ 3J A2DD:?8 E96> E9C@F89 E96 >65:F> @7 2 49@D6? 3@5J @7 4:E:K6?D[ H9@D6 H:D5@> >2J 36DE 5:D46C? E96 ECF6 :?E6C6DE @7 E96:C 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 H9@D6 A2EC:@E:D> 2?5 =@G6 @7 ;FDE:46 H:== 36 =62DE =:<6=J E@ D24C:7:46 :E E@ E6>A@C2CJ @C A2CE:2= 4@?D:56C2E:@?D]”k^Am
kAm“&?56C DF49 2 C68F=2E:@?[” |25:D@? 4@?E:?F65[ “:E >2J H6== 92AA6? E92E E96 AF3=:4 G@:46[ AC@?@F?465 3J E96 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D @7 E96 A6@A=6[ H:== 36 >@C6 4@?D@?2?E E@ E96 AF3=:4 8@@5 E92? :7 AC@?@F?465 3J E96 A6@A=6 E96>D6=G6D …]”k^Am
kAm#6AC6D6?E2E:G6D[ |25:D@? 36=:6G65[ H@F=5 36 >@C6 C2E:@?2= 2?5 >@C6 C6DA64E7F= @7 ?@C>D 2?5 :?DE:EFE:@?D E92? E96 A6@A=6 E96>D6=G6D] %96J H@F=5 AC6D6CG6 A@AF=2C 8@G6C?>6?E 3J C67:?:?8 56>@4C24J :ED6=7]k^Am
kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 E@ E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 a_E9 46?EFCJ H96? 2 86?6C2E:@? @7 A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DED 649@65 :? E96:C E:>6 H92E |25:D@? D2:5 :? 9:D] {:<6 9:>[ E96J EC:65 E@ 4@?G:?46 E96 p>6C:42? AF3=:4 E92E E96 @?=J H2J E@ D2G6 56>@4C24J 7@C E96 A6@A=6 H2D E@ D2G6 :E 7C@> E96>]k^Am
kAm*2=6’D #@36CE s29=[ A6C92AD E96 =625:?8 A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE @7 9:D E:>6[ AC2:D65 E96 <:?5 @7 A@=:E:42= 5:G:D:@? @7 =23@C 6?G:D:@?65 3J |25:D@?] %96 C@=6 @7 E96 AF3=:4 H2D E@ 6=64E C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 =62G6 E96> E@ 5@ E96 H@C< @7 8@G6C?:?8 :? E96 AF3=:4’D :?E6C6DE]k^Am
kAm(96? 96 HC@E6[ s29= E9@F89E E96C6 H2D 2 56>@4C2E:4 4C665 :? E9:D 4@F?ECJ[ @?6 D92C65 3J 4:E:K6?D 2?5 E96:C C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D] qFE :? E6C>D @7 E96 :?E6?D:EJ @7 E96:C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ E92E 4C665[ s29=[ =:<6 |25:D@?[ ECFDE65 A@=:E:42= =6256CD >@C6 E92? E96 A6@A=6 E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAmp?5 76H H6C6 >@C6 2CE:4F=2E6 23@FE H92E 96 42==65 “E96 >@C2= 5:DE:?4E:G6?6DD @7 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 8@G6C?>6?E” E92? E96 5:DE:?8F:D965 A@=:E:42= E96@C:DE v6@C86 z2E63] &?=:<6 s29=[ z2E63 @776CD H92E 96 42==D 2 “?@?\|25:D@? 5676?D6” @7 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 :?DE:EFE:@?D]k^Am
kAm#6AC6D6?E2E:G6 56>@4C24J[ :? z2E63’D G:6H[ “:D 4@>>:EE65 E@ C6DA64E:?8 E96 3@F?52C:6D @7 E96 :?5:G:5F2=[ 2?5 E96 C6=2E65 D6A2C2E:@? @7 D@4:6EJ 2?5 DE2E6j J6E :E 6DE23=:D96D 2 >FEF2= >@C2= A6C>623:=:EJ 36EH66? AF3=:4 2?5 ?@?AF3=:4] x? 4@?EC2DE[ 5:C64E 56>@4C24J 677246D 3@F?52C:6D 2?5 D6A2C2E:@?D H9:=6 DF3;64E:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 E@ E96 AF3=:4 A@=:E:42= :>A6C2E:G6] %9:D :>A6C2E:G6 C6A6=D E96 6IA=@C2E:@? @7 A@DD:3:=:E:6D :? ?@?AF3=:4 =:76 E92E E96 DA:C:E @7 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 56>@4C24J 7@DE6CD]”k^Am
kAm#6AC6D6?E2E:G6 56>@4C24J[ z2E63 6IA=2:?D[ D2G6D E96 A6@A=6 7C@> E96 “4@?E:?F@FD 2?5 2== 23D@C3:?8 … =:76 @7 4:E:K6?D9:A” E92E 56>@4C24J 56>2?5D]k^Am
kAm(92E F?:E6D |25:D@?[ s29=[ 2?5 z2E63 :D E96:C D92C65 36=:67 E92E 56>@4C24J ?665D E@ 36 D2G65 7C@> E96 A6@A=6 3J A@=:E:42= =6256CD]k^Am
kAmqFE :? a_ac[ 42? 2?J@?6 H9@ 92D H2E4965 H92E 92AA6?D :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ 36=:6G6 E92E @FC C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D H:== D2G6 FDn %@ H2E49 E96>[ 2D y677C6J #@D6? WAC6D:56?E @7 E96 }2E:@?2= r@?DE:EFE:@? r6?E6CX AFED :E[ :D E@ =:G6 “y2>6D |25:D@?’D ?:89E>2C6]” xE :D E@ H:E?6DD “:56@=@8:42= H2C72C6 36EH66? A2CE:6D E92E 5:C64E=J 492??6=D E96 A2DD:@?D @7 E96:C >@DE 6IEC6>6 4@?DE:EF6?ED 2?5 5@?@CD — AC64:D6=J E96 EJA6 @7 724E:@?2=:D> E96 u@F?56CD 239@CC65]”k^Am
kAmp?5 E@52J[ 2D H6 6?E6C 2? 6C2 :? H9:49 2D 7@C>6C !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? @3D6CG65[ “2? @=:82C49J :D E2<:?8 D92A6 :? p>6C:42 @7 6IEC6>6 H62=E9[ A@H6C[ 2?5 :?7=F6?46 E92E =:E6C2==J E9C62E6?D @FC 6?E:C6 56>@4C24J[ @FC 32D:4 C:89ED[ 2?5 7C665@> 2?5 2 72:C D9@E 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ 86E 29625[” H9@ H:== DE2?5 FA 7@C 56>@4C2E:4 8@G6C?>6?E :? 2?J 7@C>nk^Am
kAmxE D66>D 4=62C6C ?@H E92? 6G6C E92E :7 p>6C:42? 56>@4C24J :D E@ 36 D2G65[ :E H:== 92G6 E@ 36 E96 A6@A=6 E96>D6=G6D H9@ 5@ :E] %96 7:CDE DE6A C6BF:C6D E92E 2== @7 FD AFE 2D:56[ @C DFDA6?5[ @FC 5:D2AA@:?E>6?ED 2?5 E96 56>@4C2E:4 5:D:==FD:@?>6?E D@ G:G:5=J C68:DE6C65 :? E96 xAD@D A@==]k^Am
kAm~?46 H6 5@ D@[ H6 42? 368:? E96 4:G:4 24E:@? ?66565 E@ C67@C> @FC :?DE:EFE:@?D] y@:?:?8 8C@FAD H@C<:?8 E@ :>AC@G6 56>@4C24J[ DA62<:?8 @FE H96? =6256CD E2<6 2?E:\56>@4C2E:4 24E:@?D[ 2?5 4@>>:EE:?8 @FCD6=G6D E@ E96 =@?8\E6C> H@C< ?66565 E@ AC6D6CG6 56>@4C24J H:== 36 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 6G6C]k^Am
kAmpD H6 5@ E9:D H@C<[ H6 42? E2<6 2D @FC 8F:5:?8 DE2C H92E (:?DE@? r9FC49:== D2:5 :? }@G6>36C `hcfi “|2?J 7@C>D @7 v@G6C?>6?E 92G6 366? EC:65 2?5 H:== 36 EC:65 :? E9:D H@C=5 @7 D:? 2?5 H@6] }@ @?6 AC6E6?5D E92E 56>@4C24J :D A6C764E @C 2==\H:D6] x?5665[ :E 92D 366? D2:5 E92E 56>@4C24J :D E96 H@CDE 7@C> @7 v@G6C?>6?E 6I46AE 7@C 2== E9@D6 @E96C 7@C>D E92E 92G6 366? EC:65 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6 …”k^Am