Since 1945, many people have been convinced that democracies bring peace. But is that true? And what about democracy promotion abroad? Here are some answers from political scientists. Switzerland is not only a peaceful, democratic country, it is also – as stated in its constitution – committed to democracy and the peaceful "coexistence of peoples" worldwide. The extent to which democracy and peace are linked from a Swiss perspective is demonstrated by the fact that the promotion of democracy is the responsibility of the "Peace and Human Rights" department in the foreign ministry. The perspective that democratisation brings peace has also had an impact internationally since 1945. Since the Second World War, the number of interstate wars has decreased and the number of democratic states has increased. In 2024, there were once again more autocratic states than democratic ones. And liberal democracies, which respect the rights and freedoms of the individual, have even become a rare ...
