On January 22, 2025, an article titled “We Should Avoid Ideologization of Democracy: Learning from the Lessons of the Iraq War” was published in the Geoeconomics Briefing, authored by Professor Maiko Ichihara of the Graduate School of Law. In this article, Professor Ichihara reflects on the “super election year” of 2024, highlighting a decline in public trust—particularly among people in the Global South—toward democratic institutions and values. She provides an in-depth analysis of how democratic discourse within the context of security has influenced this trend. Professor Ichihara begins by focusing on the rhetoric surrounding support for Ukraine. She points out that political leaders in Western countries went beyond framing their support for Ukraine as a defense against violations of sovereignty. Instead, they sought to legitimize their actions under the banner of “supporting democracy.” While this discourse aligned with narratives within Ukraine, she argues that its primary aim was national defense and fostering a “rally around the flag” effect. As a result, democratic institutions and values were sidelined, functioning instead as an ideology to justify interstate conflict. She also addresses the human rights violations caused by Hamas’s attack on Israel, arguing that these events further disconnected democratic discourse from its institutional and value-based foundations. Professor Ichihara concludes by asserting that reorienting democratic discourse and policy is essential for safeguarding freedom and human rights within the international community.