Diacronie. Studi di Storia Contemporanea (Oct 2011)

Globalization and the “Democratic Peace” as Civilizing Forces? The case study of Israel

  • Lorenzo Kamel is a PhD candidate at Alma Mater Studiorum (University of Bologna); he obtained a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy from La Sapienza University of Rome and a M.A. in Social Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author of many academic articles and of two books: L’alternativa (Roma, Editori Riuniti University Press, 2011) and Israele-Palestina. Due storie, una speranza (Roma, Editori Riuniti University Press, 2008), the latter awarded with the “Giuseppe Sciacca International” prize.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 4
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

Read online

Cosmopolitans, striving to make all human beings part of one worldwide community, are inspired by two developments of today’s world: globalization and the so-called ‘democratic peace’. But is this hope justified – do these phenomenons exert a civilizing force? By discussing the case of Israel, i.e. a partially developed democracy, it is found that it is difficult for globalization to become a cosmopolitan force under the circumstances of conflict. Furthermore, democracies are able to project their internal values onto foreign policy only when dealing with other democracies; they display autocratic foreign policy behaviour when dealing with non-liberal states. In this respect a full-fledged and internationally recognized Palestinian democratic state could increase the chances for a future of mutual respect in the Holy Land.

Keywords