Jeff Gedmin, future President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has written a very interesting article on the “Soft Power of the United States” (so far available in German only). He describes how the US are helping countries that are struggling to overcome autocratic institutions and controlled media. RFR/RL e. g. helps spreading democratic values by providing objective news and analysis. This said, Gedmin was not really happy with a statement made by German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at the Munich Security Conference. In his speech Frank-Walter Steinmeier said:
In turn many in the US are only now learning that democracy apparently cannot be imposed by military means – and that democracy and the rule of law certainly create the necessary, but not always sufficient, basis for security and peace.
Although Jeff Gedmin rejects this statement, he still gives credit to Steinmeier: “The German Foreign Minister is no anti-American.”
Well, of course I would never call Steinmeier an anti-American either. I would simply say: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, …
And as a German I would like to add: Democracy has been imposed upon us by the Americans after World War II. I will always be grateful for that.