That should be an interesting read.
Fundamentally I disagree that we live in a democracy as such; however part of the problems that have plaguing this nation perhaps since Reconstruction are directly related to FedGov (elected officials, permanent bureaucrats, and appointed judges) seeing themselves as oligarchs who have some right to rule over the People from whom they actually derive their power. They seem to forget this trivial, little fact all too often; even making rules and policies that are not in synch with the Constitution...hoping that we won't notice. Hoping, perhaps that we'll follow along with them like the sheeple that they are creating in public schools (you're a teacher aren't you?; I mean no offense to you but you made a post recently about how kids and parents are lacking in critical thinking skills and historical knowledge.)
Anyway, in the great scheme of things I see external pressures often as an excuse for distraction first of all and secondly an excuse for enhancing the illusion of the necessity to be lead by some kind of oligarch. I don't see it as a necessary component of success but it is helpful in uniting the nation for a common cause when that cause is just...or profitable. Just my 2 cent word jumble...
You've been posting on some deep subjects here lately...making my brain hurt.
I don't have a full understanding of the topic because it's relatively new to me; however, the idea could be traced back to the Revolutionary War with the lone exception being the Civil War.
There's always been war or some form of conflict with an outside presence.
Revoluationary War - Late 1700s
War of 1812
Indian conflicts (1820s and 1830s)
The Mexican War - 1840s
Post Civil War included numerous battles with Native Americans
The Spanish-American War - Late 1800s
Foreign Affairs (such as the Panama Canal) - Early 1900s
World War I - 1910s
World War II - 1940s
Korean War - 1950s
Cuba Missile Crisis - 1960s
Vietnam - 1960s and early 70s
Iranian Conflicts - Late 1970s/early 1980s
Iraq Part One - Late 1980s/Early 1990s
Bosnia/Kosovo - Mid 1990s
9/11, Afghanistan, and Iraq - 2000s
Not to mention, the grandaddy of them all - The Cold War - 1940s-Late 1980s
The constant implication that Islam is evil. That Iran is dangerous. That China has all our debt (not true by the way). That immigrants are ruining our country. That we must go to war with drugs.
I'm not saying any of these are right or wrong, but they do/did exist.
I think the reaction to 9/11 is a good example of external conflict promoting the health of a democratic nation. Everyone and their mama came together that day and the subsequent days after. Bush was a hero. We were united with country music songs, powerful vigils, and an attitude that would take the world by storm.
And the problem arises when we aren't united against something else. We then turn our conquistador mentality to something more obvious - ourselves. I'm sure there's some psychological component to this.