Ciao!

I also think the Afgan elections can be described as successful. As you say it, they were the first elections ever.

But, there is this idea of "first elections ever" that bothers me.

Wouldn't it make sense, if we were going to impose a totally foreign government system on to a society so different from that of the so called Western societies, to instruct that society what does it, and by it I mean the idea of Democracy, really mean?

It is my opinion to say that Afgans do not have a clear idea of what it really means to live in a free and democratic society. That goes also for Bolivians as well. Even more, Western societies, like the US, Germany, France and UK, are still studying this idea, I just think there should be a little more instruction before Democracy is put in place.

No, I believe the best way to learn democracy is to practice democracy. First, for practical reasons. You can study something (like how to run a poll booth), but it doesn't add up to actually working one on election day.

But. More importantly. The idea of postponing elections (in any country) until the population is "taught" how to behave in a democracy is dangerous. Who decides what instruction's necessary? Who decides when they're ready? In part, it violates many fundamental assumptions of democratic theory (that people are capable of knowing their intersts, that people are inherently smart enough to govern themselves, etc) under a somewhat "philosopher-king" impulse that's always bothered me.

Also, one of the important things about democratic governments is the creation of party systems & strategic electorates. That only happens w/ repeated elections. Parties learn what kinds of campaign strategies work for them; voters learn what to expect from parties (especially the ones that win office). None of that's possible until after one (or more) elections. The best way to learn democracy, is to practice democracy.

When you are talking about "people ara capable of knowing their interests, that people are inherently smart enough to govern themselves" you are basically talking about any Western society with a western systems of values. How about societies that are not western and do not have western values? People who, essencially do not have the same definition of "good" or "evil" as westerners do.

They, first need to be told, what do we (westerners, creators of the concept of Democracy, mean with liberty, freedom, responsibility, individual rights, etc.

No, I think all people are capable of knowing their interests, even people w/ non-Western interests. I don't think only Western societies are capable of self-government (that's ethnocentrism). And I don't believe that democracy will only work when people adopt Western philosophies.

I don't think democracy requires massive levels of instruction to people. A sort of intellectual colonialism that forces them to vote as we would want them to vote. People should be free to vote for communists, or indigenous leaders, or for high taxes, or for no taxes, or to legalize opium, or whatever.

If you mean, should we instill in them the importance of tolerance for dissenting views (e.g. free press, speech, religion, etc) then I agree that we need to make those wishes known to them. But I believe that, when given the choice, most people tend to vote for tolerant regimes. Because I do absolutely believe that most people -- regardless of their culture -- are inherently capable of acting rationally in their best self-interest.

You're also, I'm sorry to say, confusing the issue. The question of what is good/evil isn't an issue at all. The question is simply do people know how to vote & such. Those things can only be learned through the doing. That's the bottom line. We might never fully transform another culture (and would we even want to? it smacks of cultural imperialism!). But we can help people start making their own choices. And they can decide on the basis of what they think is good/evil, not our defintions, theirs.

Oh, by "learning how to vote" I mean the very very very basic act of voting. We take it for granted, since we've done it before. And in many socities, there's at least some experience w/ voting proceedures. But in countries were there's never been a history of voting, these things aren't so obvious. Especially in societies w/ high levels of illiteracy.

People don't know how to mark a ballot. Or how to register to vote. Or how to stand in line. Or how to put their ballot in the box. All these mundane, simple things we take for granted. And you can't learn them until you do them.

Take, for example, teaching someone to play a sport. Never mind trying to teach them complex strategies. Just imagine teaching them the rules of how to move, what to do w/ the ball, etc. These aren't value questions, they're mechanics questions. And what's the best way to learn to play any sport? Well. To play it.