Introduction Democratic policing theory is not a monolithic, compelling, cohesive doctrine. Somewhat like democracy itself, the literature on democratic policing is characterized by often conflicting claims and counter-claims regarding its fundamental principles, objectives and provisions. This literature review analyzes the notable differences and similarities in various characterizations of democratic policing, and also briefly analyzes the challenges that some authors argue are already threatening the theory's dominance. The last few decades have seen a series of attempts by (mainly Western) democrats. ) countries to export both democracy and democratic policing to post-conflict, emerging and developing states. It is therefore not surprising that much of the literature on democratic policing focuses on overcoming the peculiar difficulties inherent in introducing democratic policing among populations that have little experience of its key principles. This review analyzes this theme, with a particular focus on the literature that discusses the creation of democratic policing in former colonial countries of the South Pacific. The texts examined in this review are primarily 21st century although, necessarily, some reference is made to historical context. antecedents of the current body of work. The texts are written by criminologists, other academics and governmental and non-governmental bodies. The Birth of Democratic Policing The authors are relatively in agreement about why the institution of the police evolved, with a common view that it arose as the means “through which the state [could] assert its exclusive title or paramount to the use or threat of coercion against dangers emanating from its territory”.1 Loader notes how this at... middle of the document ......ing in the Commonwealth Pacific, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 2006, access of September 5th 2011REINER, R., The Politics of the Police, 2nd ed., 1992, Brighton, HarvesterUnited Nations, "Principles of Democratic Policing", UN Police Magazine, December 2006. 22 September 2011WALKER, N, “Decoupling Police and State”, pp 75–85 in E. Bort and R. Keat (eds.) The Boundaries of Understanding: Essays in Honor of Malcolm Anderson, Edinburgh, International Social Sciences Institute, 1999WIATROWSKI , Michael and JA GOLDSTONE, “Voting and the Democratic Police Badge,” Journal of Democracy, vol. 21, No. 2, April 2010, pp. 79-92, ProQuest, last accessed September 21 2011