Op-ed: Democracy and the impermanence of its bearers

            Robert Kagan assures his readers that America is here to stay as the world's leading power in The World America Made. However, more interesting than his arguments for America's dominance is the reason why he is making them in the first place. He seems to be soothing an unspoken, panicky fear that exists about the perhaps inevitable downfall of America. Kagan automatically associates the fall of America with the extinction of democracy. This is because he says the policies of the United States made "the explosion of democracy possible" (p. 26). He views unfavorably the idea of a multipolar world, which is quite likely to be seen in the future. He reminds us that the last time European powers dominated the world, their world order "collapsed in two world wars" (p. 70). He is suggesting that world civilization would fall to pieces without America as the leader. First of all, what would our "downfall" look like? When one hears of a fall of a civilization, it conjures post-apocalyptic images of a chaotic society.

            We are often reminded how the great democracies of Greece and Rome fell. However, did they really fall or just change? Many of the city states of Greece were direct democracies, which was functional because of the small amount of people permitted to participate. On the other hand, according to history professor Paul Cartledge, "cities that were not democracies were either oligarchies- where power was in the hands of the few richest citizens- or monarchies" (2011). Democracy did not necessarily flourish in all of ancient Greece. Democracy existed where it was promoted by those in power. Democracy survived long after Alexander the Great's empire was divided. Democracy also remained after the Romans ruled parts of the old empire. It is important to note that even though Greek civilization fell, Greek ideas and culture had already conquered the Romans and was perpetuated by them. As for the fall of Rome, writer N.S. Gill questions if Rome really fell and notes "some prefer to say that Rome adapted rather than fell" (2012). The split of the empire in two, with the eastern half becoming the Byzantine empire, can be viewed positively, because irreconcilable differences in the leadership of the Christian faith made it impossible for the two empires to live peacefully as one. Rome still exists today, it is just not a massive world power anymore. However, the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome never fell and are still a part of western education.

            Democracy is an idea and does not belong to any one nation. Governments come and go, but ideas are immortal. Even if the United States declines as a world power that won't take away from its achievements as a nation. The idealism of thinkers like Thomas Jefferson will always be remembered. Democracy will continue to be practiced by nations that find it beneficial to them, just as it is now. Change is an evitable part of our existence, but it is not the end of the world. In my opinion, Kagan just needs to relax and perhaps write a more realistic sounding book instead of attempting to soothe his own paranoia.

Cartledge, P. (2011). BBC History Ancient History in depth: The Democratic Experiment. BBC . Retrieved April 9, 2012, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greekdemocracy_01.shtml

Gill, N.S. (2012). Fall of Rome. Ancient /Classical History. Retrieved April 9, 2012, from http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/romefallarticles/a/fallofrome.htm

Kagan, R. (2012). The world America made. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.