Dr. Morton Halperin, Senior Advisor, Open Society Institute
Topic: “Japanese-American cooperation in supporting democratic transitions”
Looking back from a future vantage point, one will likely be able to discern a major wave ofdemocratic transitions sweeping over today’s world. This wave started in a small country inAfrica, but it has now built up into a huge swell worldwide. Efforts by Japan and the US tofurther rally these democratic transitions are of great import for the entire world. While wecannot mutually compel struggles demanding new democracies, we can and should supportthem. This is the role of the Community of Democracies, or CD.

Firstly, the democratic transitions taking place in every part of the world are to our own
benefit and that of humanity. Democratic countries maintain the rule of law and have greater
credibility as trading partners. They are unlikely to become failed states or to suffer famineand starvation.

They also cooperate in addressing security threats, terrorism andnon-proliferation issues. All people have a natural desire to enjoy freedom, and we shouldclosely track this ambition.

Secondly, while democracy cannot be imposed from outside, it is wrong to think that the Eastand other non-Western civilizations or religions such as Islam cannot co-exist withdemocracy. The Middle East Spring shows that democracy is a global and universal desire.
Turkey, Indonesia, India, Mali, Tunisia and other countries have demonstrated that Islam anddemocracy can co-exist.

Japan, the US and other states that have already achieved the status of democratic nations
should support the struggles for democracy arising in these countries and should assist themto ensure the viability of the new democracies. Also effective would be to have countries
such as Indonesia, which achieved a democratic transition in recent years, convey theirlessons and experiences to countries currently on the path of democratic transition. For
instance, ODA should be provided in a priority fashion to new democracies similar to theapproach of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) recently established by the US.
Following the example of the OAS, it would also prove more effective if Japan could
cooperate with Mongolia, the chair country of the Community of Democracies, and with
South Korea and other democratic countries in Asia.

Here let me briefly outline the history of the Community of Democracy. In 2000, Poland, theUS, India, South Korea, Mali, and Chile, all signers to the Warsaw Declaration, gathered inWarsaw to shape the establishment of this Community of Democracies. The Japanese
government sent Amb. Tatsuo Arima as its envoy and provided financial assistance. FormerUN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also pacipated, stating that, while he would hope that theUN would at some point take on the role itself, he provisionally welcomed the efforts of theCommunity of Democracies to lead the world in a democratic direction. The Community ofDemocracies has since held a ministerial conference every two years.

Restructuring will be required to further the activities of the Community of Democracies. As
one facet of this restructuring, the Governing Council (GC) was established to support theCommunity of Democracies. I was quite pleased to hear the happy news that Japan had
joined this Governing Council alongside Sweden, the Netherlands, Colombia, Costa Rica,and Nigeria.

Recent years have also seen new efforts such as democratic partnerships. Democratic
countries and NGOs will cooperate in supporting countries undergoing democratictransitions based on the latter’s needs. Examples include the support given to Tunisia via
cooperation between the Netherlands and Slovenia, and the support given to Moldova via
cooperation between the US and Poland.

Also conspicuous are the democratization

education efforts of Mongolia’s president and democratic gatherings in Geneva and NewYork. We look forward to Japan taking on an active role in the Governing Council, supporting
the Mongolian president and enhancing its cooperation in the United Nations.