As we see the breakdown of law and order in Egypt, Turkey and elsewhere, all seeking the development of democracy in nations that have not been paragons of promoting justice and equality, we must not forget that there have been cases of nations that have become successful, stable democracies without massive violence and bloodshed in the past few decades. The partial list below does not include those nations in North America, Western Europe, Japan, Israel, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Costa Rica which have had longer term stable democracies
These would include, as a few major examples the following:
Spain since 1975
Chile since 1989
Poland since 1989
Hungary since 1989
The Czech Republic since 1993
South Africa since 1994
Northern Ireland since 1998
South Korea since the 1990s
Taiwan since the 1990s
If only such could be the same in the Middle East, Africa, much of Asia, and much of Latin America, but we are a long way from that reality!
Professor Professor, please there has been democracy in South America for almost 30 years now. Brazil is a great example. Argentina with all its defects and self-destructive statist policies, still has avoided military coups, the last one was in 1976. Same with Uruguay, Colombia. All have had democracies before Chile. Chile’s economic success is really due to Pinochet, who though a Dictator, established the economic base for Chile’s success. Base and system which the following Democratic governments maintained. Unlike Cuba’s dictatorship which will leave the Island in ruins. Venezuela, unfortunately is a bad example of democratic majoritarian populism, which is destructive. Peru, Paraguay and Ecuador are the ones who have had some issues, but the military stayed in the barracks.
The coup is Egypt is understandable. There can be no rule of law or democracy with the Muslim Brotherhood and the slaughtering of Christians. The Military did well today in Egypt.