The word, “Democracy” in the American press, usually refers to a particular version of Democracy – a very Western one in which being able to make a choice is itself of greater moral importance than the results of that choice. It is a mix of pluralism, liberalism and capitalism. In many parts of the world, the value of Democracy is well understood, but without the idea of pluralism as a panacea.
Such countries include those where a) the establishment has an interest in keeping pluralism out of the system and/or b) the underlying social philosophy is more practical (e.g. Confucian) than moral (e.g. Judeo-Christian).
This article recently translated at Watching America comes from Cuba where a) certainly applies.
It compares Cuba’s democracy favorably with that of the United States, by taking the position that Democracy has to be measured by the results it produces, and noting that in the U.S., a President can be elected while losing the popular vote, and remain in office without the support of a huge majority of his people, while having a negative effect on the fabric of the country.
Read more here: Democracy is Not a Multiparty System. It is Serving the People, from Ahora, Cuba, translated from Spanish
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.