When Foreign Policy Leaves the People Behind
Democracy: Right now, millions of people across the world are demanding justice in Palestine—marching, writing to governments, calling for a ceasefire. But despite overwhelming public pressure, most leaders remain silent.
It’s a familiar feeling: being ruled in the name of democracy, without having a real say in the decisions that matter most—especially those involving war, weapons, and foreign alliances.
NATO describes itself as a “community of democracies.” But most of its decisions—deployments, arms coordination, expansion—happen behind closed doors, far from public participation.
So we’re asking: What would it look like if we did get to decide? And why don’t we?
⚖️ Where Democracy Breaks Down in NATO Decision-Making:
- No public vote on whether a country joins NATO, sends weapons, or escalates military presence
- Parliaments often bypassed or pressured into alignment under the guise of “defence consensus”
- Summits shaped by ministers, defence contractors, and generals—not by citizens or civil assemblies
- Dissent is often marginalised or labelled anti-democratic, even when rooted in democratic principles
🧠 Further Reading on Democracy:
- Democracy and Military Alliances – E-IR
- The Public’s Role in NATO Expansion – Carnegie Europe
- Civic Consent and Foreign Policy – OpenDemocracy
Take Action:
- Talk about who’s making decisions in your name
- Ask your local representative how NATO actions are debated
- Share this video and leave your voice in the comments below
My Reflections
“Democracy is more than voting—it’s the right to meaningfully shape what your country stands for.
I don’t remember being asked if I wanted to align with a 5% defence budget or send weapons into warzones. But somehow, it was decided in my name. That’s not democracy. That’s branding.”
#PeaceNotPosture
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