There is a compelling case for encouraging democratization in the developing world. Most countries that pursue political reform do economically better. They are not destined to political instability and economic stagnation as established thinking would have us believe. This, of course, is on top of the many moral and justice-based advantages of democracy. However, the policy indecisiveness bred by the conventional view risks unnecessarily propping up dictatorial or neo-authoritarian governments to the detriment of their populations and the world at large. Waiting for a country to develop economically before promoting democratic reform is a non sequitur in nearly all cases. Rather, what is needed is an increasingly sophisticated strategy on the part of the world's leading democracies to delineate genuine democratizers from those that are simply going through the motions—and then to ensure that adequate levels of financial and political support are available to foster their success.

Countries undertaking the difficult steps of political liberalization are engaged in one of the most challenging and important political processes of our time. In aggregate, they are shaping global political norms for the 21st century. It is incumbent on the established democracies to better understand this process so as to effect a more decisive and consistent influence.