This essay will answer this question through a variety of means. To measure the question posed, it is first necessary to define the concepts of democracy, international peace and security. Having defined these, we need to apply democracy promotion, using examples from the past to assess whether this is a worthwhile endeavor and, if so, how we should approach it to ensure we achieve what we set out to do. This essay will refer to, but will not provide a comprehensive analysis of, “democratic peace theory.” The first, and perhaps most difficult concept to define, is democracy itself. Beetham[1] suggests that to arrive at a definition of the many contested options, it is necessary to understand that there are fundamental principles of democracy, which can be used to create a definition concomitant with most of those posed in the academic field. He identifies these principles as those of majoritarian rule, consensual rule, the representation of the “public good,” or the “popular will.” It also identifies the importance of political equality and promoting the public good over private interests. The ability to express counterarguments to propose different points of view is also believed to be an integral part of democratic processes. Representative democracy, Beetham argues, goes further by requiring equal opportunities for all citizens to stand for election, equal accountability of elected officials, that democracy must be representative of the electorate, and that citizens are able to participate in political processes through organizations and access to their representatives. Peace, in a simple definition, is measured by the absence of violence. However, we must then ask what form violence must take to be considered capable of addressing these challenges in a way that improves outcomes for all involved.[19] Considering the above, is promoting democracy among the many non-democratic governments a good step towards international peace and security? The use of “hard power” and military intervention are generally unwelcome, and we must consider that this could have long-lasting consequences for both democratic and non-democratic nations, and we must consider whether international efforts are not better targeted towards cooperation to ensure that we tackle the impending challenges of climate change on a united front. This does not mean that all democracy promotion should cease; Promoting democracy through “soft power” is beneficial and generally welcome in most countries. It is best to undertake a transition to democracy with the guidance and support of these “veteran” democratic countries, in order to ensure the best outcome for all.