Biden’s summit of democracies
The writer holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and is the author of Development, Poverty and Power in Pakistan, available from Routledge
In the lead up to the American elections, Biden promised to host a gathering of the world’s democracies if he were to become President. Despite the tumultuousness unleashed by the sacking of the US Capitol, the transition of power has now occurred within the US. Biden’s plans for hosting a Global Summit for Democracy do also seem to be on track as the means to signal to the world that a post-Donald Trump America will again be committed to democracy abroad and at home.
America’s ability to ensure democracy at home and abroad is by no means uncontested. Yet, over these past few years, the world has seen a perturbing growth of repression, ultra-nationalism, and illiberal tendencies. Countries with very different histories, political systems, and geographies (such as Russia, China, Turkey, the Philippines, Hungary, India, Saudi Arabia) have experienced a sharp spike in authoritarianism.
The impact of authoritarianism is not confined to the domestic sphere alone. Consider, for instance, how Russia and India have been working to weaken and malign neighbours via disinformation efforts under their strongmen leaders.
Given American disenchantment with internationalism under Trump, British PM Boris Johnson tried to spearhead a ‘D-10’ grouping of 10 countries (G7 plus Australia, South Korea and India) but this grouping did not quite make a mark, especially as the UK itself headed towards Brexit.
Advocates of an internationalist approach within the incoming US administration want their government to re-engage with the rest of the world. Organising a high-profile summit would be a useful way for the US to reassert its position as the so-called ‘champion’ of democracy. The mere fact that Biden has become President does not mean that the US credentials of promoting democracy around the world have suddenly become unquestionable. Many senior members in the Biden team are quite centrist in their approach to geopolitics.
While the incoming US administration can be expected to embrace the rhetoric of democratic values and human rights, it will also be compelled by realpolitik considerations such as curbing the influence of China and Russia. Nonetheless, the US remains the most powerful nation in the world, and its foreign policies do have a significant impact on the rest of the world. Given this reality, many countries will no doubt be wondering if they are going to be on the list of invitees, in case the planned ‘Summit of Democracies’ does indeed take place.
Based on merit alone, countries backsliding on democracy should perhaps not be invited to such a summit. Several countries have begun making pre-emptive efforts to get into the good books of the Biden administration. President Sisi of Egypt, who was reportedly referred by Trump as his “favourite dictator”, has apparently engaged DC-based lobbyists and released some political prisoners to help polish up his image. Turkey has promised to carry out major economic, legal and human rights reforms. Saudi Arabia has mended ties with Qatar.
India should also be concerned by the departure of the Trump administration. Modi will probably get an invitation to this planned summit of democratic nations, given the continued US imperative to develop economic ties with India and to contend with China. However, Biden will probably take a more nuanced position on human rights violations in India. At the tail end of the Trump administration, the State Department discarded advice of its own Commission on International Religious Freedom to avoid placing India as a ‘country of concern’ for its suppression of minorities. Under Biden, it is unlikely that India will continue getting a similar carte blanche on human rights.
One wonders if Pakistan will also be able to secure an invite to a US-hosted democracy summit. Such an invitation would signal the US government’s intention of continuing to partner with Pakistan or downgrading Pakistan’s relevance given the imminent US departure from Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2021.
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