As we leave behind an era in which America tried to assert democracy by force (and often failed), the question arises: what part of our efforts to spread democracy can we preserve for the future? In The Freedom Agenda, James Traub traces the history of America’s democratic evangelizing, offering an assessment of the George W. Bush administration’s failed efforts abroad. And he puts forth the argument that democracy matters--for human rights, the resolution of conflicts, political stability and equitable development. But America must exercise caution in spreading it, both internationally and at home.
The Freedom Agenda
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Traub (The Best Intentions) tries to rescue the policy of democracy-promotion from the ashes of the Iraq War in this book that is both a critique of contemporary politics and a nimble history of the continuities in American foreign policy. According to the author, the Freedom Agenda—George W. Bush's declaration that American liberty is dependent on liberty in other lands is—for all its contemporary bungling—a venerable American axiom. The ambition to export democracy has been our missionary impulse, an impulse the book traces from McKinley's 1898 invasion of the Philippines. Securing democracy at home and abroad is essential, argues Traub; our own security depends on the progress of liberty—just not with the heavy-handed and often bellicose approach of the Bush administration. Although he gives short shrift to historical democracy-promotion successes in Germany, Japan and South Korea, the author's cogent assessment of the current necessity and challenges of recent efforts by presidents Carter to George W. Bush makes for a useful primer on American intervention in a changing world. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The subtitle implies a hard-hitting polemic about whether the U.S. should actively endeavor to spread democracy to other countries, and, if so, how this should be done. This implication is unfortunate, for Traub’s discussion of “democracy promotion” in foreign policy is more nuanced and more intelligently ambivalent than most recent books on the topic. Traub, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, does not waver in his belief that America has a moral responsibility to encourage other nations to seek representative, transparent governance. But, in examining how the U.S. has pursued this agenda (in the Philippines a century ago as well as since 9/11), Traub finds that we have failed more than we have succeeded; too often, our efforts have been ham-fisted, tainted with self-righteousness, and, as demonstrated in a robust chapter on antidemocratic pressures in Egypt, even counterproductive. Though we should continue trying, says Traub, we should learn from our mistakes and send more aid to “feeble democracies” such as Mali, which has attained a degree of political legitimacy in spite of (or perhaps because of) its dire poverty. --Brendan Driscoll
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Helen Hancox
Format:Hardcover
This book was an excellently-written and interesting round up of the history of America's "Freedom Agenda", its promotion of democracy abroad, with particular reference to George W Bush's "War on Terror" and how that has influenced global opinion on the USA.
The book looks closely at the experience of democracy in the Philippines, Mali and Egypt, as well as the different ways in which Presidents approached the dissemination of democracy. He covered well the difficulties that Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib have caused in global views of America's brand of democracy and encapsulated much of outsiders' views of the Freedom Agenda as 'naďveté and hubris'.
The book was perhaps a little disappointing in that offered few recommendations for the future under Barack Obama. What's clear from history is that democracy works very differently and takes a very different form depending on the country and that few successes in one situation can be automatically applied to others. What was also very surprising to this British reader was the vast amount of money the US pays to other nations to try to bargain with - much of which seems to do little good. It would have been good to explore how this money might be more effectively used and whether the cost of spreading democracy is considered worthwhile by the average American.
This was overall a very good read and provided much food for thought.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008
The book looks closely at the experience of democracy in the Philippines, Mali and Egypt, as well as the different ways in which Presidents approached the dissemination of democracy. He covered well the difficulties that Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib have caused in global views of America's brand of democracy and encapsulated much of outsiders' views of the Freedom Agenda as 'naďveté and hubris'.
The book was perhaps a little disappointing in that offered few recommendations for the future under Barack Obama. What's clear from history is that democracy works very differently and takes a very different form depending on the country and that few successes in one situation can be automatically applied to others. What was also very surprising to this British reader was the vast amount of money the US pays to other nations to try to bargain with - much of which seems to do little good. It would have been good to explore how this money might be more effectively used and whether the cost of spreading democracy is considered worthwhile by the average American.
This was overall a very good read and provided much food for thought.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Mike B
Format:Paperback
A succinct history of how America has tried to promote democracy abroad starting with the Philippines at the start of the century.
The author is right with the dictum that "America gets too much credit". Too much when things go wrong and too much when things go right. America's influence and its' ability to sway events is also much over-emphasized.
Mr. Traub points to the blatant hypocrisy and duality of the Bush administration in pushing democracy by waging war in Iraq. After the fall of Saddam, Rumsfeld and Cheney had little interest in sustaining democracy (as if that would have been an easy possibility in sectarian Iraq).
The author makes a good point that few countries are indeed ready for democracy. Elections are over-rated as being a significant indicator of a democratic country. Barack Obama pointed out that elections were not a part of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms (speech, religion, freedom from fear and want) The chapters on Egypt and Mali were particularly good in describing the limitations and what is needed for promoting democracy. A good case was made for aligning with moderate Islamic parties in Egypt.
The author is right with the dictum that "America gets too much credit". Too much when things go wrong and too much when things go right. America's influence and its' ability to sway events is also much over-emphasized.
Mr. Traub points to the blatant hypocrisy and duality of the Bush administration in pushing democracy by waging war in Iraq. After the fall of Saddam, Rumsfeld and Cheney had little interest in sustaining democracy (as if that would have been an easy possibility in sectarian Iraq).
The author makes a good point that few countries are indeed ready for democracy. Elections are over-rated as being a significant indicator of a democratic country. Barack Obama pointed out that elections were not a part of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms (speech, religion, freedom from fear and want) The chapters on Egypt and Mali were particularly good in describing the limitations and what is needed for promoting democracy. A good case was made for aligning with moderate Islamic parties in Egypt.
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