--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You do not export democracy through the…" description: "\"You do not export democracy through the Defense Department or the Defense Secretary. You do it through trade agreements, through the Department of Comm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/stephen-f-lynch-30023_across_you-do-not-export-democracy-through-the_1848938.png" --- # You do not export democracy through the Defense Department… ![“You do not export democracy through the Defense Department or the Defense Secretary. You do it through trade agreements, through the Department of Commerce and favorable agreements with our friends and neighbors across the globe.” quote by Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/stephen-f-lynch-30023_across_you-do-not-export-democracy-through-the_1848938.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/stephen-f-lynch-30023_across_you-do-not-export-democracy-through-the_1848938.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/stephen-f-lynch-30023_across_you-do-not-export-democracy-through-the_1848938.png) > “You do not export democracy through the Defense Department or the Defense Secretary. You do it through trade agreements, through the Department of Commerce and favorable agreements with our friends and neighbors across the globe.” [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy spreads via economic ties and trade, not military channels. **In simple terms:** Trade spreads democracy more than the military. Key Takeaway Focus on building trade partnerships. Themes democracy trade foreign policy Mood optimistic strategic Type political policy When to use this quote - negotiating trade deals - regional cooperation - development aid - business diplomacy Key Concepts economic interdependence soft power Questions to Reflect On - How can trade agreements be structured to promote democratic norms? - What risks arise when economic interests conflict with democratic goals? A Different Perspective Military force alone cannot sustain democratic values abroad. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Export](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/export/) [Favorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorable/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Globe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globe/) [Neighbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbors/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) ## Related quotes > [I wouldn't say it's a split. It's a difference of emphasis. It does exist between, I would say, the State Department and the Defense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-wouldn-t-say-it-s-a-split-it-s-a-difference-of-emphasis-it-does/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [A monoculture is not only Hollywood, but Americans trying to export democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/a-monoculture-is-not-only-hollywood-but-americans-trying-to-export/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) > [The Soviet Union attempted to export communism to the entire world. We know what came of that. Now the West is trying to export…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-yakunin/the-soviet-union-attempted-to-export-communism-to-the-entire-world-we/) [Vladimir Yakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-yakunin/) > [Fascism is more of a natural state than democracy. To assume blithely that we can export democracy into any country we choose can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/fascism-is-more-of-a-natural-state-than-democracy-to-assume-blithely/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Now, given the experience that we have had thus far, with our subsequent trade agreements with NAFTA and others, you would think that with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/now-given-the-experience-that-we-have-had-thus-far-with-our/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [When the Defense Department was established after World War II, a law said that any defense secretary with military experience must have been out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/when-the-defense-department-was-established-after-world-war-ii-a-law/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [This idea of holding the Defense Department hostage to the tax debate makes me sick to my stomach. 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Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [We intend to keep the lines of communication open with the Defense Department so we can help our border law enforcement agencies navigate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cuellar/we-intend-to-keep-the-lines-of-communication-open-with-the-defense/) [Henry Cuellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cuellar/) ## More by Stephen F. Lynch > [I am told that the clinical definition of insanity is the tendency to do the same thing over and over again and expect different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/i-am-told-that-the-clinical-definition-of-insanity-is-the-tendency-to/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [I always thought a very strong anti-drug policy was a good thing for my union members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/i-always-thought-a-very-strong-anti-drug-policy-was-a-good-thing-for/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [Since NAFTA was put in place, Mexico has lost 1.9 million jobs and most Mexicans' real wages have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/since-nafta-was-put-in-place-mexico-has-lost-1-9-million-jobs-and/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [Instead of trade policy that is beneficial to American businesses and workers as well as our trade partners, we have a flawed trade policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/instead-of-trade-policy-that-is-beneficial-to-american-businesses-and/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [Hey, I'm a former union president myself and also an attorney that represented a lot of unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/hey-i-m-a-former-union-president-myself-and-also-an-attorney-that/) [Stephen F. 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