Does Democracy lead to a Westernised way of life?

Discussion in 'Politics' started by alexb123, Nov 24, 2005.

  1. alexb123 The Amish web page is fast! Valued Senior Member

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    Does Democracy lead to a Westernised way of life? Or more importantly does it lead to a replica of the American way of life?

    I believe that it does, if people are given free choices they will fall for the trappings of the Western way of life, because on the surface they appear to be the most pleasing. However they are driven by Greed and selfishness and only lead to a greater want.

    The masses are not able to think long-term or on any kind of intelligent level, no wonder the world is in so much trouble.
     
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  3. DarkThorn Registered Senior Member

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    I don't think that is necessarily the case but i do see where you are coming from. Most of the world is a democracy already with the exceptions of a couple of countries who are still communist. Those who are democracies are not all showing signs of complete Westernisation but some do. I think it mostly depends on cultures and religious beliefs.
     
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  5. alexb123 The Amish web page is fast! Valued Senior Member

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    I agree with you that religious beliefs play an important role but I would imagine Religion declines in a Democracy? Does anyone know?

    If you give people more freedoms I would think they would be more likley to break tradition and turn away from Religion? Also Democracy leads to better education and I am sure that education leads to a decline in Religion.
     
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  7. Baron Max Registered Senior Member

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    I think, perhaps, if you asked "Does Democracy and capitalism lead to a Westernised way of life?" the answers would likely be true. Democracy, without free enterprise/capitalism, i.e., a "socialistic democracy", would not necessarily lead the western way of living.

    To my way of thinking, it's mainly the principles of free enterprise and capitalism that's the driving force of the nation ...not democracy. As someone mentioned, there are lots of "democracies" in the world, but there's only ONE America!

    Baron Max
     
  8. mountainhare Banned Banned

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    Would you consider the ancient Greeks 'Westernised'?
     
  9. Clockwood You Forgot Poland Registered Senior Member

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    Well, the hellenistic culture was certainly the precursor to western civilization and culture. It wasn't yet fully formed, but much of what eventually came to be 'The West' was already cooking.

    In any case, try not to lump all of ancient Greece into one pot. Sparta, for example, was very different from democratic Athens.
     
  10. Hapsburg Hellenistic polytheist Valued Senior Member

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    No, look on a map, there's two, or three if you want to get technical.
    North America, Central America, and South America.
     
  11. guthrie paradox generator Registered Senior Member

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    As has already been pointed out, you are ignoring the effects of "free" market capitalism. People wont fall for the trappings of western consumerism without some pushing as well. But it is also important to say that many different societies have valued and achieved improved living standards, in pre capitalistic times.
    Anyway, if the world is in such trouble due to the masses, what are all the elites doing?
     

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