Research Catalog

Title

Democracy : stories from the long road to freedom / Condoleezza Rice.

Author

Rice, Condoleezza, 1954-

Publication

• New York, NY : Twelve, [2017]
• ©2017

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

viii, 486 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color), maps; 24 cm

Summary

At a time when people around the world are wondering whether democracy is in decline, Condoleeza Rice shares insights from her experiences as a policymaker, scholar, and citizen in order to put democracy's challenges into perspective. When the United States was founded, it was the only attempt at self-government in the world. Today more than half of all countries qualify as democracies, and in the long run that number will continue to grow. Yet nothing worthwhile ever comes easily. Using America's long struggle as a template, Rice draws lessons for democracy around the world -- from Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, to Kenya, Colombia, and the Middle East. She finds that no transitions to democracy are the same because every country starts in a different place. Pathways diverge and sometimes circle backward. Timeframes for success vary dramatically, and countries often suffer false starts before getting it right. But, Rice argues, that does not mean they should not try. The question is not how to create perfect circumstances but how to move forward under difficult ones. The pursuit of democracy is a continuing struggle shared by people around the world, whether they are opposing authoritarian regimes, establishing new democratic institutions, or reforming mature democracies to better live up to their ideals. The work of securing it is never finished.

Subjects

• Democratization
• Cabinet officers
• United States
• Democratization > Government policy
• African American women politicians
• Black author
• History
• Democratization > Government policy > United States
• Autobiographies
• Cabinet officers > United States > Biography
• United States > Foreign relations > 2001-2009
• Since 1989
• Biography
• African American women politicians > Biography
• Rice, Condoleezza, 1954-
• World politics > 1989-
• Diplomatic relations
• Democracy > History

Genre/Form

• Autobiographies.
• Biography.
• History.

Note

• "May 2017"--Title page verso.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-466) and index.

Contents

Introduction: Is democracy in retreat? -- The American experience -- Russia and the weight of history -- Martial law and the origins of Polish democracy -- Ukraine: "A made-up country"? -- Kenya: "Save our beloved country" -- Colombia: the era of democratic security -- The Middle East: Can democracy exist in a cauldron? : Iraq: when tyrants fall ; Egypt and Tunisia: when old men fail ; Arab monarchies: Will they reform? -- Are authoritarians so bad? -- What democracy must deliver -- "Democracy is the worst ... except for all the others" -- Epilogue: They will look to America -- 2016.

Call Number

Sc E 17-749

ISBN

• 9781455540181
• 1455540188

LCCN

2016056710

OCLC

958797575

Author

Rice, Condoleezza, 1954- author.

Title

Democracy : stories from the long road to freedom / Condoleezza Rice.

Publisher

New York, NY : Twelve, [2017]

Copyright Date

©2017

Edition

First edition.

Type of Content

text

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-466) and index.

Local Note

Schomburg copy with dust jacket.

Chronological Term

Since 1989

Local Subject

Black author.

Research Call Number

Sc E 17-749