China is among the curious guests invited to next week’s Bali Democracy Forum to spread the gospel of representative government.
But it won’t feel alone. Also going are envoys from Burma, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.
I’m sure they’ll all have plenty to say at the Dec. 10-11 forum, including why their countries simply aren’t ready for democracy.
The forum is the idea of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who then pulled in Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as co-chair.
Indonesia is feeling a tad defensive about the odd guest list, even if its own record on democracy over the past decade has been pretty stellar.
“This is not a forum among democracies, this is a forum about democracies,” said Umar Hadi, director of public diplomacy in Indonesia's Foreign Ministry.
Indonesia’s public diplomacy chief, Andri Hadi, said the forum would let envoys discuss issues of common concern such as regular and genuine elections, multiparty systems in pluralistic and tolerant societies, effective parliaments, independent judiciaries, rule of law, protection and promotion of human rights, good governance, and creating an active and vibrant media.
Great topics. But you gotta wonder: Why invite governments that do their best to prevent all these conditions from happening?
You don't want to simply preach to the choir. You gotta see the forum in a broader context, as they had said, it is not a forum to talk about democracy, it is a forum to share experience and practices to become democracies, with the hope of inspiring other governments (democratic or not) to change towards a more democratic way. Imagine if the forum consisted of the US, Australia, European countries, and a couple of democratic Asian countries. What would be the point?
Posted by: jed | January 07, 2009 at 03:49 AM
What is democracy?
Equality for all, privilege for none!!!!
Posted by: The tank man | December 06, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Come on Tim, this is a perfect chance to preach democracy and its "values", isn't it? If countries like China are not invited, you are going to see a bunch of countries bloating about themselves and that's no fun.
Posted by: Pffefer | December 05, 2008 at 02:42 PM
"You gotta wonder..."?
Only if you cannot imagine a world where countries are trying to figure out how to cope with a country that represents 47% of world annual arms spending yet 5% of its population and, on the strength of such grotesque imbalance, feels it is entitled to hold up, and impose by force, its model of government upon the other 95% of the planet's fellow human beings.
You gotta wonder what makes some folks wonder.
Posted by: Arthur Borges | December 05, 2008 at 12:28 PM
While I'm no admirer of non-democratic systems, I do agree it's logical to engage countries that limit personal and institutional freedoms. Yes, we'll hear tired, regurgitated statements of "Our country isn't ready for democracy" and/or "It goes against our 'cultural values' and "Our society's members don't want it."
Don't isolate them. Countries such as China and Vietnam *have* made progress, if limited. Why? -- Engagement with "Western" democracies.
Posted by: Mekhong Kurt | December 05, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Why invite governments that do their best to prevent all these conditions from happening?
If not inviting them but isolating them, things will only become worse...
Just keep inviting these governments, step by step, though slowly, things will changer for better.
Posted by: Howard | December 05, 2008 at 03:40 AM
Because it's always good to have a discussion to facilitate mutual understanding on the efficacies and practicalities of democracy, especially in an Asian context.
One would imagine the more authoritarian regimes to offer observations on why the western democratic model may not (yet) work in Asia, or at least an opportunity to defend it (yet again).
So, why not, Tim?
Might you not be too quick to dismiss the utility of such an invitation?
Posted by: Tian | December 05, 2008 at 01:53 AM