Theories about Democratic Peace challenge how Realists think about war. They highlight how the type of government can affect how countries act. Here are some main ideas:
Less Fighting: Studies show that democratic countries hardly ever go to war against each other. For the last 200 years, out of about 250 wars between countries, only 5 were between democracies.
What the People Want: Leaders in democracies need the support of their citizens to stay in office. Because of this, they are less likely to start expensive wars without the public's backing. Surveys show that around 70% of people in democracies prefer talking things out rather than going to war.
Rules and Standards: Democracies have rules in place that help solve conflicts peacefully. These rules also make things clearer, which leads to a 50% lower chance of conflict happening between democratic countries compared to countries with different types of governments.
To sum it up, while Realist ideas focus on power and chaos, the Democratic Peace theory highlights how the way a country is run can help keep peace.
Theories about Democratic Peace challenge how Realists think about war. They highlight how the type of government can affect how countries act. Here are some main ideas:
Less Fighting: Studies show that democratic countries hardly ever go to war against each other. For the last 200 years, out of about 250 wars between countries, only 5 were between democracies.
What the People Want: Leaders in democracies need the support of their citizens to stay in office. Because of this, they are less likely to start expensive wars without the public's backing. Surveys show that around 70% of people in democracies prefer talking things out rather than going to war.
Rules and Standards: Democracies have rules in place that help solve conflicts peacefully. These rules also make things clearer, which leads to a 50% lower chance of conflict happening between democratic countries compared to countries with different types of governments.
To sum it up, while Realist ideas focus on power and chaos, the Democratic Peace theory highlights how the way a country is run can help keep peace.