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• catalog abstract "In this remarkable new book - as much a work of political philosophy as a meditation on current affairs - Jean-Francois Revel provides the first complete account of the startling events that have led to the revival of democracy throughout the world. Recalling the "euphoria" that swept the democratic countries after the fall of communism, Revel asks whether it was justified, and he concludes that we came much closer to losing the Cold War than many believe. Indeed, communism fell despite the weakness of the democratic front and the cynicism, self-hatred, and romantic illusions about revolution that have pervaded the Western elites in recent decades. In fascinating detail, Revel masterfully recreates the final phase of the Cold War and argues that the movement to end communism was not a revolution in the ordinary sense, but a reaction against revolution which paved the way for an acceptance of democracy as the only form of government that works. For while admittedly imperfect, democracy is still the only self-correcting system, while totalitarian societies are always forced to the catastrophic end of their own logic. Yet despite this worldwide rejection of utopian illusions, the victory of democracy is by no means historically inevitable. Vigorous alternatives remain, particularly in the Third World, where Islamic fundamentalism offers perhaps the most serious contemporary challenge to democratic values. In order to ensure its success, Revel argues, we must identify our interests with the flourishing of democratic principles. Thus, our foreign aid must place political reforms ahead of economic development, and we must establish a right to intervene in the internal affairs of nondemocratic regimes, respecting only those that are rooted in popular sovereignty. But even under democratic governments, we are unlikely ever to construct a world that is much better than ourselves. That is why the deepest challenge to democracy is a moral and political challenge from within. "Democracy allows free men to be born," Revel concludes, "but only free men allow democracy to last."".
• catalog alternative "Regain démocratique. English".
• catalog contributor b4899377.
• catalog created "c1993.".
• catalog date "1993".
• catalog date "c1993.".
• catalog dateCopyrighted "c1993.".
• catalog description "For while admittedly imperfect, democracy is still the only self-correcting system, while totalitarian societies are always forced to the catastrophic end of their own logic. Yet despite this worldwide rejection of utopian illusions, the victory of democracy is by no means historically inevitable. Vigorous alternatives remain, particularly in the Third World, where Islamic fundamentalism offers perhaps the most serious contemporary challenge to democratic values. In order to ensure its success, Revel argues, we must identify our interests with the flourishing of democratic principles. Thus, our foreign aid must place political reforms ahead of economic development, and we must establish a right to intervene in the internal affairs of nondemocratic regimes, respecting only those that are rooted in popular sovereignty. But even under democratic governments, we are unlikely ever to construct a world that is much better than ourselves. ".
• catalog description "In this remarkable new book - as much a work of political philosophy as a meditation on current affairs - Jean-Francois Revel provides the first complete account of the startling events that have led to the revival of democracy throughout the world. Recalling the "euphoria" that swept the democratic countries after the fall of communism, Revel asks whether it was justified, and he concludes that we came much closer to losing the Cold War than many believe. Indeed, communism fell despite the weakness of the democratic front and the cynicism, self-hatred, and romantic illusions about revolution that have pervaded the Western elites in recent decades. In fascinating detail, Revel masterfully recreates the final phase of the Cold War and argues that the movement to end communism was not a revolution in the ordinary sense, but a reaction against revolution which paved the way for an acceptance of democracy as the only form of government that works. ".
• catalog description "That is why the deepest challenge to democracy is a moral and political challenge from within. "Democracy allows free men to be born," Revel concludes, "but only free men allow democracy to last."".
• catalog description "pt. 1. Nonsense and Common Sense About Democracy. Ch. 1. The Democratic High. Ch. 2. Illusions and Realities of the Democratic Euphoria. Ch. 3. Democracy, Totalitarianism, Freedom. Ch. 4. Revolution and the Totalitarian Lie. Ch. 5. Uses and Abuses of Human Rights -- pt. 2. The Collapse of Communism. Ch. 6. Foreseeable and Unexpected. Ch. 7. Revolutions Against the Revolution. Ch. 8. How Utopias Come to an End. Ch. 9. How to Get Out of the Consequences of Communism -- pt. 3. Democracy in the Third World. Ch. 10. From Democracy to the Market, or from the Market to Democracy? Ch. 11. In Praise of Elections; or Why It Is Better to Be Rich and Free Than Poor and Oppressed. Ch. 12. Islamic Democracy or Islamic Terrorism? -- pt. 4. Democracy in the Democracies. Ch. 13. Rotting from the Head; or Kleptocracy -- pt. 5. Toward Worldwide Democracy. Ch. 14. Democrats All, in Spite of Ourselves.".
• catalog extent "x, 278 p. ;".
• catalog hasFormat "Democracy against itself.".
• catalog identifier "0029263875 :".
• catalog isFormatOf "Democracy against itself.".
• catalog issued "1993".
• catalog issued "c1993.".
• catalog language "eng fre".
• catalog language "eng".
• catalog publisher "New York : Free Press ; Toronto : Maxwell Macmillan Canada ; New York : Maxwell Macmillan International,".
• catalog relation "Democracy against itself.".
• catalog subject "321.8 20".
• catalog subject "Democracy.".
• catalog subject "JC423 .R45313 1993".
• catalog subject "Post-communism.".
• catalog tableOfContents "pt. 1. Nonsense and Common Sense About Democracy. Ch. 1. The Democratic High. Ch. 2. Illusions and Realities of the Democratic Euphoria. Ch. 3. Democracy, Totalitarianism, Freedom. Ch. 4. Revolution and the Totalitarian Lie. Ch. 5. Uses and Abuses of Human Rights -- pt. 2. The Collapse of Communism. Ch. 6. Foreseeable and Unexpected. Ch. 7. Revolutions Against the Revolution. Ch. 8. How Utopias Come to an End. Ch. 9. How to Get Out of the Consequences of Communism -- pt. 3. Democracy in the Third World. Ch. 10. From Democracy to the Market, or from the Market to Democracy? Ch. 11. In Praise of Elections; or Why It Is Better to Be Rich and Free Than Poor and Oppressed. Ch. 12. Islamic Democracy or Islamic Terrorism? -- pt. 4. Democracy in the Democracies. Ch. 13. Rotting from the Head; or Kleptocracy -- pt. 5. Toward Worldwide Democracy. Ch. 14. Democrats All, in Spite of Ourselves.".
• catalog title "Democracy against itself : the future of the democratic impulse / Jean-François Revel ; translated by Roger Kaplan.".
• catalog title "Regain démocratique. English".
• catalog type "text".