"Unwelcomed Guest" Christine Porcaro 11/7 Reactionary/Comment

After reading Meredith's post, in the blogging group http://thoughtsontheories.blogspot.com/ I can definitely see what she is saying. It almost does seem hypocritical that democratic states, such as the United States, go around promoting democracy but when the international system is looked at as a whole the United States does not act democratically. I think that in the past the United States has been viewed as a benevolent hegemon but in the past few years, due to unilateral action and the United States inaction in such places as Darfur, the United States in not viewed upon so positively. As the world seems to be more and more interconnected and since right now the US is viewed as the most powerful state, I feel that the US has a great responsibility in acting more democratically. Though the international system can be viewed as anarchic, there are, in my opinion, international institutions that can make a difference. If the United States works with these institutions then countries will feel less threatened and will be more willing to work with the United States. These international institutions give developing countries a say that they might not have and it also gives them a forum to work with the United States where they do not have to feel that they are being exploited or abused. I feel that through international institutions the United States can appear less like an authoritarian and more like a democratic nation. I mean if the US would have listened to the UN, Iraq might not be what it is today and maybe the US could have given help where it is needed and moreover WANTED. I am sure that this has been said before but with power comes responsibility but that does not mean that other who are less powerful are less important. Their opinion and input is just as important and deserves the respect of developed countries especially the United States.