Democracy and individual rights are, to an extent, the frosting wrapped around the real focus-- private property rights and private enterprise.
The last 75 years of foreign policy show that it's easier to coexist with the West as a tyranny that won't be an impediment to business, than a democracy that comes to any other conclusions. But at the same time, they'll never say outright "we couped/invaded to make a world safe for Coca-Cola/United Fruit/Disney" when they can make some blather about democracy or rights.
The last 75 years of foreign policy show that it's easier to coexist with the West as a tyranny that won't be an impediment to business, than a democracy that comes to any other conclusions. But at the same time, they'll never say outright "we couped/invaded to make a world safe for Coca-Cola/United Fruit/Disney" when they can make some blather about democracy or rights.