Originally Posted by DanaC

The definition of fascism is not that it destroys democracy around the world. I wholeheartedly agree that America's foreign policy has, for a very long time, been damaging to many other nations. I also agree that America has on many occassions subverted the actual democratic will of other nations in order to create or maintain conditions favourable to its own needs.

None of this shows instability in America, nor does it show instability within the American democratic system. It simply shows that America can and has, in many instances, had a damaging effect on other nations' attempts at democracy. That is not the same thing as them being an unstable democracy. They may cause instability, but they themselves are very stable.

America may well be a factor in the decisions made by other nations. Some Arab nations have chosen paths which, in my view, are entirely at odds with any real concept of human rights and individual freedoms. Saudi Arabia does not bar women from driving because they see American democracy rampaging about the Middle East. Iran does not sanction strange men hitting women because they dare to step into the street without covering their faces, on account of America's wars and international meddling. Nor can America be held accountable for systems which disallow female suffrage and cous nt homosexuality as a capital offence. That hold the death penalty as an option for those who change their faith and consider Trade Unions a dangerous and unacceptable development.

America may be one of the factors which serve to deepen those trends, and drive those nations further into themselves. But they are not the cause.