US President Joe Biden began the second summit for democracy on Wednesday. He says global leaders are “changing the tide” against democratic regress. “Now, we can proudly state that democracies around the world are strengthening, not deteriorating. Also, the worlds autocracies are eroding, not strengthening,” Biden stated. He also announced that the US would pledge to spend $690 million on projects that promote democracy.Not all are invited Israel and India, both of which are being criticised for considerable democratic backsliding, were present at this years democracy summit, while Hungary and Turkey, two nations that are viewed as becoming more autocratic, were absent. A court in India recently sentenced Indian National Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi to jail for making a comment about those who share the same last name as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while massive demonstrations are currently taking place in Israel against proposed reforms to its judiciary.Turkey and Hungary were reportedly excluded from the invitation because they werent deemed to be “democracies.” Bangladesh, another democratic nation with a solid administration led by an elected prime minister, wasnt either. Yet, Pakistan, the global financial disaster, received approval and invitation. However, Islamabad declined Bidens offer out of concern for upsetting its new ally and big brother China. China has responded by summoning 300 visitors from more than 100 nations to what it calls its own edition of a “conference on democracy” on Thursday.Is the US the right nation to be the flagbearer of democracyA piece written by Sreemoy Talukdar in the First Post criticises the USs ethical righteousness in organising the summit. He observes that questions concerning the exercises effectiveness must be asked in the midst of geopolitical conflicts. A pretentious “conference on democracies” divides the globe into two ideological camps, but this distinction is neither clear-cut nor realistic, and it only serves to highlight the inconsistent nature of US foreign policy. Moreover, the US, the summits host nation, is in no position to issue certificates. For ages, it has supported autocracies, autocrats, military juntas, and demagogues, and it still does so out of a desire for hegemony, self-interest, and the justification of American exceptionalism.Talukdar points out that, Former president of the United States Franklin D Roosevelt famously said of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, “He may be a bastard, but hes our bastard.” The United States, too, is a fundamentally flawed democracy that lacks the moral legitimacy to host such a conference. According to a 2021 Harvard youth survey, young Americans are sceptical of the countrys democratic claims. “Just 7% said the United States was a healthy democracy, and 52% thought democracy was in crisis or failed. This fear is reinforced by the fact that 35% of respondents expect a second civil war in their lifetimes, and 25% believe at least one state will separate.”The Chinese factorChina is asserting itself as Americas peer challenger. Beijings commercial diplomacy lacks any value preaching, providing it with an advantage in “strongman-ruled” governments. It has acquired power in West Asia by mediating a peace settlement between arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, and it has constantly been attempting to embrace the Global South through a variety of political and economic measures, including commerce and large infrastructure and transportation projects.The United States regards Chinas growing influence in the Global South, Latin America, West Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa as a strategic issue exacerbated by its own withdrawal from Central and West Asia. As Chinas challenge to Americas dominance as the “rule-keeper” rises, new strategies are necessary to define the binary by placing themselves on the “righteous ” side and China and its gang on the “wrong” side. One of the summits major purposes is to reaffirm Americas global dominance under the guise of a democracy promotion campaign.
