Exporting Democracy: Rhetoric vs. Reality

In recent years, debates within academic and policymaking circles have gradually shifted - from a Cold War focus on whether democracy constitutes the best form of governance, to the question of whether (and to what degree) international actors should be actively involved in democracy promotion. This book offers the first comprehensive analysis of international efforts to promote democracy during the post-World War II period, with an emphasis on developments since 1989. The authors assess the efforts of major industrialized democracies, multilateral actors, and NGOs. They find that the success of these endeavors is constrained by several realities, ranging from the often significant gap between the rhetoric and the reality of actual policies, to the dilemma that occurs when the goal of democracy clashes with other foreign policy interests. The first comprehensive analysis of international efforts to promote democracy during the post-World War II period, with an emphasis on developments since 1989.

Table of Contents:
Promoting an International Community of Democracies - P.J. Schraeder. PROMOTING DEMOCRACY: EXPLORING THE RATIONALES. In Pursuit of a Peaceful International System - C.W. Kegley, Jr. and M.G. Hermann. In Pursuit of a Prosperous International System - J. Johnson. THE ROLE OF STATE ACTORS. Promoting a Special Brand of Democracy: Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden - L. Laakso. Germany's Hesitant Role in Promoting Democracy - J. Ruland and N. Werz. Japan: A Passive Partner in the Promotion of Democracy - T. Akaha. Inconsistent U.S. Efforts to Promote Democracy Abroad - S.W. Hook. THE ROLE OF MULTILATERAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. The European Union: An Ad Hoc Policy with a Low Priority - G.R. Olsen. The United Nations: Strengthening an International Norm - C.C. Joyner. The World Bank: Missionary Deeds (and Misdeeds) - B. Hibou. Political Foundations and Think-Tanks - J.M. Scott. CONCLUSION. Making the World Safe for Democracy? - P.J. Schraeder.

About the Author :
Peter J. Schraeder is associate professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago. He is author of United States Foreign Policy Toward Africa: Incrementalism, Crisis and Change and African Politics and Society: A Mosaic in Transformation. He is also the editor of Intervention in the 1990s: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Third World.

Review :
This book will become the reference work of choice for scholars analyzing efforts at democracy promotion, and for practitioners who want to learn how others are approaching the challenge. - Marina Ottaway