But it is not the only important reason why the Clinton Administration has given such a high priority to supporting struggling democratic movements and governments around the world. This may seem counterintuitive, especially if you've heard the charge that we support democracy because we just want everyone else to live by our values. But the fact is, we promote democracy in part because it is the only form of government that lets the people of other countries and cultures choose their own way. I know of no better way to show respect for the uniqueness and autonomy of others than to support their right to shape their own destiny and select their own leaders. In any language, on any continent, for any culture, dictatorship is an imposition.
Democracy is a choice.
We believe people ought to have that choice, and need to have that choice, especially in nations recovering from crisis. You see, Americans can encourage such nations to resolve conflicts and reform broken economies. But only when their people freely and genuinely embrace peace, openness and national unity can we be confident these conditions will endure. Of course, it is especially in these troubled countries that our faith in democracy is most often tested. We sometimes are nervous about how elections will turn out.