THE RELEVANCE OF DEMOCRATIC PEACE THEORY IN THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

The democratic peace theory is a liberal approach to international peace that has dominated international relations since the post-Cold War era. The theory is a modern formulation and a clear explanation and logical reasons that global spread of democracy is a fundamental source of peace in the international system. The mainstream argument is that states that have democratic institutions are unlikely to go to war and will not pursue aggressive policies against each other. The theory contends that democratic states behave distinctly different from non-democratic states, and declaring war requires citizen’s support and legislative approval. However, the paper argues that the relevance of the theory in the contemporary international system has been challenged by recent developments; the ongoing trade war between the United States and other Western liberal democracies, and Trump’s recent threat to annex Greenland Island. The paper maintain that Trump trade war, though a none-physical violence war and threat to annex Greenland have undermined the theory of democratic peace, and has raised serious questions concerning the continued relevance of the theory in the international system. The paper posits that notwithstanding the said challenges in the post-cold war multi-polar world and complex globalization, the democratic peace theory has more than ever gained relevance. The paper argues for the humanization and democratization of the United Nations Security Council to reflect geographical spread, and for the democratization process of illiberal democracies and non-democratic countries, which would extend the democratic peace to many countries of the world, and make the democratic states to be rationale in the conduct of foreign policies.