The gradual shift of norms in international politics has seen an increase in the number of democracies. This is a positive trend for human security and it opens the way for an active strategy among democracies to encourage political change within dictatorial regimes by the promotion of democratic ideals. Such encouragement includes the need to show leadership by example in the development and support for democratic ideals. Chapter 4 set out the legal grounds for R2P and the state obligations to protect and support human security. This chapter deals with international norms in general and democracy norms in particular. We argue that there has been a gradual shift away from the traditional state sovereignty norm in favour of democracy norms that are more supportive of the human security ethos.

The development of democracy norms embeds a moral duty for the state to represent its people and to promote political and socioeconomic welfare. The notion of moral duty also extends to affluent states that have the capacity to actively promote the political and socioeconomic welfare of the less fortunate, wherever they may be. Notions of state responsibility and state obligation are always contentious, but if one claims that democracy promotion is important and that a civil and moral society exists, then there is a clear moral imperative to act. There are many practical examples of individual states and the international community acting to provide assistance and support to those in need, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters.