ABSTRACT
Economic growth brings with it a more differentiated social structure, a higher level of education, a stronger middle class, and a more vibrant civil society, all factors that help promote democracy. Democracy assistance mushroomed in the early 1990s. Democracy is essential to human development. The idea that democracy can only grow from within and that external forces must stay out of the picture is problematic in another way. External actors can either help or hinder democracy and democratization in specific countries, leading to the question of whether the emphasis on democracy promotion is primarily rhetoric designed to cover the pursuit of narrow national interests. The optimum situation for democracy promotion would be cases where outsiders can provide strong incentives for insiders to move in the direction of consolidating democracy. The domestic preconditions for democracy are emphasized, as well as the delicate balance that outsiders must find between influencing the process of democratization while leaving ultimate control to insiders.
