Editing Democratic peace theory (section)

===Peace comes before democracy===
{{Main|Territorial peace theory}}
The [[territorial peace theory]] argues that peace leads to democracy more than democracy leads to peace. This argument is supported by historical studies showing that peace almost always comes before democracy and that states do not develop democracy until all border disputes have been settled. These studies indicate that there is strong evidence that peace causes democracy but little evidence that democracy causes peace.{{sfn|Gibler|Owsiak|2017}}

The hypothesis that peace causes democracy is supported by psychological and cultural theories. [[Christian Welzel|Christian Welzel's]] [[Freedom Rising|human empowerment theory]] posits that existential security leads to emancipative cultural values and support for a democratic political organization.{{sfn|Welzel|2013}} This also follows from the so-called [[Theory of Regal and Kungic Societal Structures|regality theory]] based on [[evolutionary psychology]].

The [[territorial peace theory]] explains why countries in conflict with their neighbor countries are unlikely to develop democracy. The democratic peace theory is more relevant for peace between non-neighbor countries and for relations between countries that are already at peace with each other.{{sfn|Owsiak|2019}}