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Abstract
The United States has developed its democratic principles based on its capitalist system.
These principles, although are based on transparent and accountability in governance,
economic developments, and the rule of law, they have been the cornerstones in nation-
buildings.
This paper attempts to recognize the depth of these principles and their feasible
applications in nation-building projects in the developing world, especially in relation to the
United States’ led peace-enforcement missions. Then, this paper tries to explore the natures
of the primary obstacles that may occur between the developed and developing worlds and
that may hinder the prospects of achieving national, regional and international peace and
security in post-Cold War era.
Introduction
Unlike the United Nations’ (UN) state-building or nation-building initiatives which mostly
follow peacekeeping missions, the United States’ (US) nation-building efforts occur while
the U.S. is engaging in peace-enforcement missions (Dobbins: 2007, 4). These peace and
security missions reflect the given circumstances that a particular “failed” or “failing” state is
going through. If such an entity poses no threat to the national interests of the US, but may
constitute a reasonable threat to human rights and regional order, then the UN most likely
gets involved in peacekeeping efforts with broad international legitimacy. However, if a
“failed” or “failing” state poses a threat to the national interests of the US, then ad hoc
interventional forces get configured under the auspices of the US with a project consisting of
short-, med-, and long-term phases. During the short-term phase, once the invading forces
neutralize sources of the threat, their tasks switch to establishing security to protect the
vulnerable people(s) in their sphere of influence. In the mid-term phase, also known as the
transitional period, combinations of external military and civilian teams engage the national
predominant players in attempts to create the foundations of democratic institutions. As the
vanguards of capitalism, American military and civilian leaderships coach, teach and mentor
their occupied counterparts the principles of liberal democracy. During this sensitive phase
and according to the economic, political and cultural factors the process of nation-building
may turn either promising or face potential flouts affecting the course of the long-term phase;
that is to prevent any back-sliding to turmoil.
That said, and after the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the US has embarked
on a project of disciplining the rouge states of the Middle Eastern to follow and respect the
logic of the capitalist market. Such a project has been interpreted by the majority of the
Middle Eastern peoples as a “clash of civilizations” and a reflection for worldviews
stemming from the “destructive norms” of liberal democracy driven by capitalist values
(Duri: 2006, 22). This and other similar interpretations necessitate the need for better
understanding of the cultural, economic and political factors that shape societies differently.
Yet, unfortunately, American policymakers have paid little attention to this critical need.
Instead, the US officials, scholars and become obsessed with the fact that capitalism, as the
Kakei 2
forefront of liberal democracy, approved itself to be one of the most balanced economic
systems available to them in shaping the future of other nations and states accordingly. Thus,
one might ask, what is capitalism? And, what impediments, it may face in its bit to embrace
various cultures of the world? To answer these questions, a modern definition for capitalism
is a must. However, because of the limited scope this paper, a simple definition will be the
general answer.
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