Overview

A challenge to conventional wisdom about the spread of democracy Since the end of the Cold War, the assumption among most political theorists has been that as nations develop economically, they will also become more democratic—especially if a vibrant middle class takes root. This assumption underlies the expansion of the European Union and much of American foreign policy, bolstered by such examples as South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and even to some extent Russia. Where democratization has failed or retreated, aberrant conditions take the blame: Islamism, authoritarian Chinese influence, or perhaps the rise of local autocrats. But what if the failures of democracy are not exceptions? In this thought-provoking study of democratization, Joshua Kurlantzick proposes that the spate of retreating democracies, one after another over the past two decades, is not just a series of exceptions. Instead, it reflects a new and disturbing trend: democracy in worldwide decline. The author investigates the state of democracy in a variety of countries, why the middle class has turned against democracy in some cases, and whether the decline in global democratization is reversible.

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9780300205800

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Any member of Congress who refuses to compromise on the budget sequester. . . should be given this mandatory assignment: Read Democracy in Retreat: The Revolt of the Middle Class and the Worldwide Decline of Representative Government. --Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer Two decades ago, Francis Fukuyama famously argued. . . that the world would inevitably evolve toward liberal democracy and market economics. Yet 2013 represents the seventh consecutive year that declines in freedom outweighed gains, according to the Freedom House index. Kurlantzick offers keen insights into what has gone wrong. --Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer Think democracy's the up-and-coming thing in the developing world? This book may shatter more than few illusions of free markets and polities. --Kirkus Reviews Think democracy's the up-and-coming thing in the developing world? This book may shatter more than few illusions of free markets and polities. --Kirkus Reviews A Wall Street Journal Best Book of 2013 A Business Week Best Book of 2013 This book offers a very well-informed and global exploration of political developments over the past decade, with a particular emphasis on the state of democracy. Kurlantzick brings it all together in a unique, original, and compelling manner. --Brian Joseph, Senior Director, Asia and Global Programs, National Endowment for Democracy Simply put, Kurlantzick raises the specter of a world where democracy is in full retreat. But this book accomplishes much more than a simple hand wringing over the problem. It conscientiously works through the major factors that are eating away at new and more established democracies and preventing the establishment of future ones. Kurlantzick shines in bringing to the fore something previously ignored. Few--if any--other books cover the topic so soundly and broadly, and for the future safety, security, and international position of the U.S., it is of vital importance. --Samantha F. Ravich, Ph.D., author of Marketization and Democracy: East Asian Experiences This book offers a very well-informed and global exploration of political developments over the past decade, with a particular emphasis on the state of democracy. Kurlantzick brings it all together in a unique, original, and compelling manner. --Brian Joseph, Senior Director, Asia and Global Programs, National Endowment for Democracy Simply put, Kurlantzick raises the specter of a world where democracy is in full retreat. But this book accomplishes much more than a simple hand wringing over the problem. It conscientiously works through the major factors that are eating away at new and more established democracies and preventing the establishment of future ones. Kurlantzick shines in bringing to the fore something previously ignored. Few--if any--other books cover the topic so soundly and broadly, and for the future safety, security, and international position of the U.S., it is of vital importance. --Samantha F. Ravich, Ph.D., author of Marketization and Democracy: East Asian Experiences

This book offers a very well-informed and global exploration of political developments over the past decade, with a particular emphasis on the state of democracy. Kurlantzick brings it all together in a unique, original, and compelling manner. -Brian Joseph, Senior Director, Asia and Global Programs, National Endowment for Democracy Simply put, Kurlantzick raises the specter of a world where democracy is in full retreat. But this book accomplishes much more than a simple hand wringing over the problem. It conscientiously works through the major factors that are eating away at new and more established democracies and preventing the establishment of future ones. Kurlantzick shines in bringing to the fore something previously ignored. Few-if any-other books cover the topic so soundly and broadly, and for the future safety, security, and international position of the U.S., it is of vital importance. -Samantha F. Ravich, Ph.D., author of Marketization and Democracy: East Asian Experiences

Author Information

Joshua Kurlantzick is a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a frequent contributor to publications including Time, the New Republic, the American Prospect, and Mother Jones.

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