Democracy & Politics Essay

The US democracy serves as the model for the development of other nations, while the US is the only superpower in the world that increases the impact of the US and its socioeconomic and political system on other nations. In such  a situation, the US should use its position of the only superpower wisely. At this point, it is possible to refer to the experience of ancient Greece, its philosophers and politicians, who also were leaders in the ancient world and their experience may be helpful to the US to make its current leadership effective and beneficial to the world.

The US serves as the model for other states to follow its democratic way of development just like Pericles described Athenian democracy, which was a model for other states of his time (McPherson 75). The high level of the development of the US democracy provides Americans with an opportunity to lead a more relaxed lifestyle compared to other nations, which strive to become truly democratic like the US that matches Pericles’ vision of democratic Athens. Pericles also depicts openness of Athens as one of the major achievement of Athenian democracy which is also the achievement of the US democracy today, because the US is the open state and is traditionally viewed as the nation of immigrants. As a result, the openness of the US nation is one of the distinct features of American democracy, where every ethnic or cultural group can find its own place and become a part of the US nation. The US democracy determines the lifestyle of Americans, which Pericles would view as the major achievement of the US nation. At any rate, he referred to the political and cultural advancements of Athens as a more important achievement than the economic wealth. Similarly, the US and Americans can boast of their lifestyle and achievements of the US democracy rather than the overall economic power of the US.

As the US is the only superpower in the world, the US serves as the model for other states to follow since other states view the US way of development as the way to success and prosperity, whereas democracy is considered to be the major condition of the successful development of nations. The democratic way of development has become the major way that many states choose to reach higher standards of living and the higher level of socioeconomic, political and cultural development. In such a situation, the US has the authority as the only superpower in the world and the US has the power to take the lead in the world, whereas other nations tend to follow the US lead.

 In such a situation, the US should use its position of the only superpower wisely as ancient Greek philosophers suggested to their political leaders (Strassler 187). To put it more precisely, the US should assist other nations in the development of their democracy to follow the US lead, but the US should not misuse its power. The latter means that the US should not over-exercise its power in the world by imposing its vision of the economic, social and political development of nations. The US should not use political, economic or military tools to force other nations to follow its lead and to choose the democratic way of development by force. Instead, the US should serve as the model for other nations. By demonstrating its advancement in the field of economy, culture, and economy, the US should encourage other nations to follow its lead and choose the same way of development that have brought success to the US.

In this regard, current policies and practices used by the US political leaders and the government may be justified to a certain extent. The US leadership is obvious and the strife of the US to bring democracy to the rest of the world is reasonable and justifiable. However, the tools used by the US are not always acceptable and fair. The close cooperation with other nations, economic and cultural relations, educational programs and openness of the US to other nations should be and, to a significant extent, are the major tools which promote the US democracy. However, the US also slip to the US of force, including economic pressure as well as the use of the military to democratize other nations. Such methods are not justifiable and the US should get rid of them. In other words, the US should shift toward the use of the soft power, such as the economic progress, technological advancements, the high level of cultural development and education. At the same time, the US should minimize the use of the military power to impose its policies on other nations. The US should promote and advance democracy in the world by evolutionary but not revolutionary means and the soft power is the best way to democratize the world successfully. Other nations will follow the lead of the US not because it is the only superpower but because it is the successful nation, where people have reached the high quality of living.

Thus, the US democracy is the manifestation of the high level of the US development and the US should refer to the experience of ancient Greeks to use its position of the world superpower effectively. The US should serve as the model for other nations, which can follow the lead of the US to reach success and prosperity.

Works Cited:

McPherson, J. “The Art of Abraham Lincoln”. The New York Review of Books 39 (13), July 16, 1992

Strassler, R.B. The Landmark Thucydides. New York: Jossey Bass, 2012.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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