The fact that the word “democracy” derives from ancient Greek, and that one can discern the kernel of democratic thought in Greek philosophy, by no means implies that democracy is embedded in the West’s political DNA. Only after centuries of absolutist rule, extremism, war, revolution, and oppression can the West as a whole reasonably claim to be free, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous – and even now there are exceptions.
“民主”一词来自古希腊语，你也可以在希腊哲学中找到民主思想的核心要素，但这一事实并不意味着民主只存在于西方政治DNA中。在经历了几百年的专制统治、极端主义、战争、革命和镇压后，西方才在整体上步入了自由、民主、和平和繁荣——即使在今天也仍然存在例外。这一所谓的西方民主是和平与繁荣的因还是果也有待争议。