ABSTRACT

Both World Wars were fought by the Western Powers in the name of democracy and both were won by the democratic side. On these points there is general agreement. When we try, however, to define democracy, we find that the meaning of the term is rather vague and there is no unanimity among those who fought for it. There are two main interpretations which, if not opposed, are contrasted in the present political world situation. The English-speaking countries, and especially America, understand the term to mean a political democracy based on the English tradition of tolerance and constitutional government by popularly elected representatives. The Soviet Union and the Communists in all countries understand by it a social democracy based on a socialist economy and State monopoly. In official pronouncements and constitutional provisions the difference between the two interpretations of democracy is very subtle and during the war permitted the representatives of both views to sign common declarations of aims and methods. The United Nations subscribing to the Atlantic Charter on January 1st, 1942, declared that they have united “to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as in other lands.” Or as President Roosevelt interpreted it: “The United Nations are fighting to make a world in which tyranny and aggression cannot exist; a world based upon freedom, equality and justice; a world in which all persons regardless of race, colour or creed may live in peace, honour and dignity.” The Teheran Declaration signed by Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin declared as their aim “a world family of democratic nations, whose peoples in heart and mind are dedicated, as are our own people, to the elimination of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance.” The freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly were specifically mentioned in the Moscow Declaration of the Four Powers (U.S.A., U.S.S.R., Great Britain and China) after the liberation of Italy, to which was added the right of the people to choose their own form of government. All these declarations followed the well-established tradition based on “natural rights” and the policy of tolerance propounded by John Locke and incorporated in the American Bill of Rights, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and many modern constitutions.