Do New Democracies Support Democracy? The Multilateral Dimension

When it comes to supporting democracy and human rights initiatives internationally, Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey present a range of behaviors. A review of voting patterns at the United Nations over six years, coupled with an analysis of each country’s behavior at other international organizations, reveals an enduring cleavage for and against external interference in internal affairs. South Korea and Turkey, anchored for decades in Western security alliances, are sympathetic to most multilateral human rights initiatives. Brazil positions itself as a fence-sitter as it seeks political autonomy and regional and global leadership. India, South Africa and Indonesia are squarely in the non-interventionist camp, though all three recently have taken some positive steps.