ǹ⼸춼15ǰdzѧ˶ڷ˼ʮıŴӲ̸ΣҲʲôΣԶȺ̸ֻʫۻ ܵǰĹҲ̸̸Լεһ롣
ȣҾѾӦķչˣҪиȽƶȡӦʶƶȿ϶ԶġƶȡĽѧĽһDzϷչµġ⼸ΪDzѿѾ컯ˡ йһҪհеơ籴Ĵͳϵĵ绰Ƚߵ绰ũȥװͳĵ绰ãȴʱйũֱֻõȴ绰˾װ绰˼й֪ʶӦÿʽģʽȱݣȥѰһȽģ͡йֱӽһʱ塣
ʮʱʱϵ˶˴ƵġȽģʽн?ֻͬģʽ ܽôһҪµģͳ ƵȻᱣһЩ硰Ȩɢcheck and balanceȻҪأ˼ʲôδ汾
ʵй˵ġʯͷӡҲûʲôԣʶﶼڲϷչģеĽҪµ¼̽¡հƱػеհģʽĶհֻ˹ɽܸı磬йҪһδйͼҡҡۼҺʵҡйеǣʱҲеǡӦüع˼ʹ¡ڵʱҵɢԴ·ۼˣһޱߵԴӦñΪйδǿ
ȻȨΪֹѧ壬ҲӦÿԵ㡣羺ѡ̵סγʽҵսǰķԵѹƣáȷѹƷԵķͳƣٵͳСʲDZϲʲķѡϵġ αٵȨûȨƺá
ڶεαԡʲȨԱȨļ̤ȫĿá
սһܺõӡŰսǷ˼ڡȫײͬϵĽʹڵϻìܣԲ˵߷Ժ˵ֹܷڹ ȴԱнʲôľӻĹ涨Űս߹ԼˣҪЮϹŰ²ѵҪΪ ƽһӦʵIJֻԵġ µΪγΪЩûԵײеأֻġֻһ裬˾ڰһǵո¶
ǻӦʽԴµǿܲǿҵ¸ϵͳĵǶ̵ģļֵҲDzߵġ
˵йöö࣬ڶʱҲĴ йܽ͡Ҳܿκڼ̤Ȩ̤ȨĶΪ ʿΪй ΪƶиɻȫЧģʽ ŻиõĽ취Ҫ־ʿơ˼
- Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/03/2004
ۣۣ
¹ƶȾͱԡйƺõ¹塣 - posted on 06/03/2004
̸ʫۻ岻죬̸Σҵǿ˵䡣ҶεȤͶֵȤһߡ
Ϊм
1ڡйЩ̸ˣңʡǸϲáǷdztrivialıһһƱѡ٣˾ûƣơǣйĶȣκһƶֵйѧϰͷЧġ
ŽĻκһҵ(¹ӢĶ)ܷõйȥһҲҪģ˾ͻζ
2ڡսCND̳϶Դ˻Ļظ
սУԷķսУdzĵġսҲ˵ǷһսҲᷢйԡ̨ս( ŷսdz춡ս)
Щ(ŷ)ͷսеˣйԼĹҵͳѹȣûɵȵľ֪ǻôڡս
ҷսսDzпġбսпģͳ߶Աͳ߽Ϻ;ϵĴݲУǰ߳衣20ڵ˹֣ëͳߡ20ĩڵĴķͽա
Ҫ־µĺܱIJпʷһսôп
ԣģյΪҪǵսⳡķսǻǸơ뵱й10ȴëȥ̣ǵĹ20IJȣձͬҪȴչҲɵIJȣ˵ġʯͲжɳصĹңӦʳǹȥ20Ǹͳȴ
⣬ٻعȥ뼸ǰսԵĿսӦȥһЩŷˣǸϲĿ֣ʲά˹
3ڡŰ²ԴµķĹǸ˵εΰ֮
֪֪йζԸԼսб˵ģЩսб˲ҲԸصйʷ
wrote:
ǹ⼸춼15ǰdzѧ˶ڷ˼ʮıŴӲ̸ΣҲʲôΣԶȺ̸ֻʫۻ ܵǰĹҲ̸̸Լεһ롣
ȣҾѾӦķչˣҪиȽƶȡӦʶƶȿ϶ԶġƶȡĽѧĽһDzϷչµġ⼸ΪDzѿѾ컯ˡ йһҪհеơ籴Ĵͳϵĵ绰Ƚߵ绰ũȥװͳĵ绰ãȴʱйũֱֻõȴ绰˾װ绰˼й֪ʶӦÿʽģʽȱݣȥѰһȽģ͡йֱӽһʱ塣
ʮʱʱϵ˶˴ƵġȽģʽн?ֻͬģʽ ܽôһҪµģͳ ƵȻᱣһЩ硰Ȩɢcheck and balanceȻҪأ˼ʲôδ汾
ʵй˵ġʯͷӡҲûʲôԣʶﶼڲϷչģеĽҪµ¼̽¡հƱػеհģʽĶհֻ˹ɽܸı磬йҪһδйͼҡҡۼҺʵҡйеǣʱҲеǡӦüع˼ʹ¡ڵʱҵɢԴ·ۼˣһޱߵԴӦñΪйδǿ
ȻȨΪֹѧ壬ҲӦÿԵ㡣羺ѡ̵סγʽҵսǰķԵѹƣáȷѹƷԵķͳƣٵͳСʲDZϲʲķѡϵġ αٵȨûȨƺá
ڶεαԡʲȨԱȨļ̤ȫĿá
սһܺõӡŰսǷ˼ڡȫײͬϵĽʹڵϻìܣԲ˵߷Ժ˵ֹܷڹ ȴԱнʲôľӻĹ涨Űս߹ԼˣҪЮϹŰ²ѵҪΪ ƽһӦʵIJֻԵġ µΪγΪЩûԵײеأֻġֻһ裬˾ڰһǵո¶
ǻӦʽԴµǿܲǿҵ¸ϵͳĵǶ̵ģļֵҲDzߵġ
˵йöö࣬ڶʱҲĴ йܽ͡Ҳܿκڼ̤Ȩ̤ȨĶΪ ʿΪй ΪƶиɻȫЧģʽ ŻиõĽ취Ҫ־ʿơ˼
- posted on 06/03/2004
һ仰У֮֮??ԣںԵĶҪƶȿȨȵģҪһһ˵ƶȡƶеˣϣһżϣʢΣ϶ˣλƶ??ӢȻʳλ??ܿʵȨӢʷʮʹƶʼŷܷʵԴ磬ĦķƸȡȻһƻǷε??Ҳ??֮ͶԴͣǷΣrule of lawǡơ(rule by law)ң. rule by lawƣ??һʼǷƣңǷΡЩabcǽ
ԴǺԨģǣ浽¬ƽȺձ־ۣΪƽǽһԼĻϣʻԼʶ̬רƳ϶룬¬۳֡Ϊ˷ձ־ǸϵйҮ˵Ĺ۵㣬ѱ˴ĸɣѱǸŽսԣ˶ԴԣȨǸʱѡѡȫʵȻʵDzƵģ۵ģǣľƸԶδдƵĵطܶ࣬ǣûһµȡ˵ֻۣϿơΥԭôҪ˵ϴ£˵Ҫˡ
һǣ˵ǰʱΰ˱ʱţ٣ͱҵʱôĿеģǣʱϵջˡܿܿʱСﵱǵǻûпһͳΣֻƶǡҪ˵أĴϺﶼѺԣƶȣԵøҪǼijijϣǼƶϣ֮͵Ĺ֮ϡ
ԣΣֻŷһ֣ĸ˺͵ľƸIJƸƸҮ̺ͷһҲĵʵģǣҲҿ׳ʱڣDz˵ģҪ¯ʱڡйǰ;ֻش˵·糱ƺƵ˳֮Լ뷨ǵˣǷиŰƸͳͳǣڿ˭Ļˡ
ﵱȻҪᵽִɶСǣǵѧԴԲģĵġһƪ˼дIJǣµ1968͵˵1968꣬һˡķ˹ɺɣµɣǴڵǰĿݡǾĸͲƶȱȽϣΪԴһааȣȻаȣǵˡΪ˵ɵԤһǰᣬ㲻ˣǾ˵ǴģʵڱȽвſԴڣɴڵġ˵ɴսƶȵıȽϣĸͺĸʱڵıȽϵȡ
֮Ϊκһ۵㣬ȡǶij˼ԴĶرĶţбȽϣġ
һǿƲӾ֮ôǾ֮Ҳ?
ϣŲҪ鼮ȡ̬ȡӴģҪ֮Ч - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/03/2004
ŲҪ̸ΣⲻŵΨߵĻ⡣Ѫȣȴ˵ȫѪɺӵֲһγѪĻһйػ֮ġ
꣬й˴йִıרƣƶȵȱݡԾԲűʵ˼άҽר߹ļȺȴӪṹ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/03/2004
˵òйľ壬˵ҮˣʱɶûУھȻһִmuddleheads壬ƶȡЦ֮
йҪIJķ˹µ˼룬Ҫ˺Үˡƶȶ˶ԵȻڸйȴ֮õġ
- posted on 06/03/2004
ħŮȻѣһ̸ΣҪשͷȻЩѣۣħŮ̸ʲôҶҪשͷġ𱬵ladyȴadagioȻҲ̫ۣʱҲʵڿȥ:)
˵ΣҲ˵䡣
û룬ûơ˲ɷһеǰᡣȺֵĽϸȺһк룬ȥһҪҪ͡ΪΪڵ۹ǻ춹ȥľ飬ʵδġֻһδ
Ȼ以ãȻγɣʵһΨһʵ;֧֮˵ġǵ룬ƺҫִƣһһϸϸķֲǴ¾ġȻ¬ָ֮йͶҽΪѡаѧۡжΪȺ徺ĵƷٽŷƶȵƣκĻʹ˼ԼӣɡԵȵȿЦʵֵ
ŵĹ۵㣬Ϊ˵߹·йɱҪһ顣Ϊܿ˹ȥµ㼣ԼߵÿһЩͬʱΪ㲻֪ŷһӳ·ֱӸϡƣޡӭͷϡ֮˵˼Dzɣǰߴ·Լ뾭һʹࡣ
صйй״̬1927ǰҲ1820ǰŷޡȥ÷չῪţһµʱŷᣬйĿǰҪߵ·ʵƽᾺƣͶķȨϰߺijĴͳйֻѧϰŷĹȥڣӿǽ
Ѿʵ֤ԽϺõĶӦúԥȫհ֮աƣû롣ټһңһ˪壬һγԡйĽţԶδ֪֮·ΣκγԣǿйɫǼ˲εΪ˵ʲô۶ԣԸʵ֤ǽĴѧϰհᣬҪκۣҲҪκκΰͼ
- Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/04/2004
αĿףҲ˵ƯķлõĿ䣬ôҲû˵˵ù֣һأ
- Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/04/2004
adagio wrote:
˵˵ù֣һأ
"ŲҪ̸"
LEAST BUT NOT the LAST I am leaving. C U:) - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/04/2004
һѪ
adagioƫִʱǺдԵġ
adagio wrote:
ŲҪ̸ΣⲻŵΨߵĻ⡣Ѫȣȴ˵ȫѪɺӵֲһγѪĻһйػ֮ġ
꣬й˴йִıרƣƶȵȱݡԾԲűʵ˼άҽר߹ļȺȴӪṹ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/04/2004
ţƫִʱʲôңʲôʵҲҲʵҲҲ
¹ wrote:
adagioƫִʱǺдԵġ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想 :)posted on 06/04/2004
λ˵úãͷԺѣ밳뷨߶һ - posted on 06/04/2004
wrote:
λ˵úãͷԺѣ밳뷨߶һ
һλʲô뷨:)
ҿڲʿʿڼΪҵaģ̸ϲǹлοҲ˲١ЦҸ߶һ£Ҳ:) ЦЦ
ݳϺͶһ˵Ĺ۵ʼڱġϹ۵㲻һʵ˵һIJͬΡ۵dzʵ֣֮ȨDzܱ˸ģħŮȨ:)
- posted on 06/04/2004
βȤʷȤCND ̳⼸ţˣֹ۵㶼ǰظIJࡣϵܵа»
wrote:
> ħŮȻѣһ̸ΣҪשͷȻЩѣۣħŮ̸ʲôҶҪשͷġ𱬵ladyȴadagioȻҲ̫ۣʱҲʵڿȥ:)
>
>
> ˵ΣҲ˵䡣
>
> û룬ûơ˲ɷһеǰᡣȺֵĽϸȺһк룬ȥһҪҪ͡ΪΪڵ۹ǻ춹ȥľ飬ʵδġֻһδ
>
> Ȼ以ãȻγɣʵһΨһʵ;֧֮˵ġǵ룬ƺҫִƣһһϸϸķֲǴ¾ġȻ¬ָ֮йͶҽΪѡаѧۡжΪȺ徺ĵƷٽŷƶȵƣκĻʹ˼ԼӣɡԵȵȿЦʵֵ
>
> ŵĹ۵㣬Ϊ˵߹·йɱҪһ顣Ϊܿ˹ȥµ㼣ԼߵÿһЩͬʱΪ㲻֪ŷһӳ·ֱӸϡƣޡӭͷϡ֮˵˼Dzɣǰߴ·Լ뾭һʹࡣ
>
> صйй״̬1927ǰҲ1820ǰŷޡȥ÷չῪţһµʱŷᣬйĿǰҪߵ·ʵƽᾺƣͶķȨϰߺijĴͳйֻѧϰŷĹȥڣӿǽ
>
> Ѿʵ֤ԽϺõĶӦúԥȫհ֮աƣû롣ټһңһ˪壬һγԡйĽţԶδ֪֮·ΣκγԣǿйɫǼ˲εΪ˵ʲô۶ԣԸʵ֤ǽĴѧϰհᣬҪκۣҲҪκκΰͼ
>
> - posted on 06/04/2004
ң
뽫תCND̳Ȼһȥᵽŵ֣ͬظ
ȣǷdzԵġ˶鼮ޣûжƽʱνΪġǷǵбȫе֪ܡսҶ˲ȤҲǷʯ(йκιһԹг۸ʯ)ֻãϰչȥ20ѾܹͷķĶߣǸøһֱϣܳոŽˣȻͳһңıս߿սIJпᣬȴͳεIJпᡣ
CNDԵ˺ܶ࣬ҿ۽磬ҲһССļĵж뵱ʱһְĴҵȫ˾Ψһһ˶ֵܵˡд8ݼֲ£ΪÿһݶǵҪȴиŮӲ˶ϲңҲø
bbeethovenn wrote:
һ仰У֮֮??ԣںԵĶҪƶȿȨȵģҪһһ˵ƶȡƶеˣϣһżϣʢΣ϶ˣ - posted on 06/04/2004
ADAGIO
ǷҽıȺҲʣķҽ˷ļķ֢иĸܡ˵Űʤй()ܺСйҲСж֪ʶӡ
⣬Ҷ(й)
adagio wrote:
ŲҪ̸ΣⲻŵΨߵĻ⡣Ѫȣȴ˵ȫѪɺӵֲһγѪĻһйػ֮ġ
꣬й˴йִıרƣƶȵȱݡԾԲűʵ˼άҽר߹ļȺȴӪṹ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/04/2004
ˣûʲô飬ҲȤÿЩҲԱ˵۸Сŵʱ˾̫أʷЩۡ
žйҲǸΨСʣֻ˺ͷ绨ѩ£ĻΡж֪ʶӣPlease don't make me laugh.
- posted on 06/05/2004
ҵİй(˵)ǷdzߵġѾ10꣬һжôϲҲdzľ⣬Ϊҿ20ΪķչǿƼĻηľףҲֻԼŬˣıԼ˵ĻᡣǣҰйҶûв顣ϣйԣһ̸йҾýܷڵййҪ()ڵģơ
adagio wrote:
ˣûʲô飬ҲȤÿЩҲԱ˵۸Сŵʱ˾̫أʷЩۡ
žйҲǸԼ۵ĺߺΨСʣֻ˺ͷ绨ѩ£ĻΡж֪ʶӣPlease don't make me laugh.
- posted on 06/05/2004
adagioıÿܸãҽǵĴܿ
һDzʳƷҪ֪ʳƷ֮һ
ʳú˷֢ԣҽŬʺԼģ
ڽʳƷGood luck
E wrote:
ADAGIO
ǷҽıȺҲʣķҽ˷ļķ֢иĸܡ˵Űʤй()ܺСйҲСж֪ʶӡ
⣬Ҷ(й)
adagio wrote:
ŲҪ̸ΣⲻŵΨߵĻ⡣Ѫȣȴ˵ȫѪɺӵֲһγѪĻһйػ֮ġ
꣬й˴йִıרƣƶȵȱݡԾԲűʵ˼άҽר߹ļȺȴӪṹ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/05/2004
ӪûУ̸ʲôӪṹйûУ̸ʲôƶȵıײӣ
Please guys, don't make me laugh as Maya did. - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/05/2004
ҰadagioһɾˣҲ徻ĵطεڵϲ adagio½⡣
ҿ۵IJθһ㡣 ͵Ϊֹɡ
adagioҪٶ֡ - Re: 对未来政治的几点暇想与瞎想posted on 06/05/2004
You too, please.
wrote:
ҿ۵IJθһ㡣 - posted on 06/05/2004
Ǻǣ죬Ҫˡ
Ҳ˵䡣Ž㰮ȻԼƬֻﲻܽһ˵ȫбСοһ˱ͺܸӣҲοдֻС˵
ѵŽഴάطdzԡΪʲôԼ˵أһﷸֻҪûбȨȨһˣ˵˼䣬Ͳ˵ˣ
ûǸܸеĻ⣬Dzʥ˲̸ҽΪ˳ģڷʡԼȱ㣬ƢػխǷϣȵȡҪŲ̸ԴƣҲ̸ԣҲǺõǸǻˡ
Adagio㿴ԼԵ˵ʲô˵ʲôҲô˾ô˵˰ɣ - posted on 06/05/2004
I never made a demand to Maya not to talk politics, I only made a suggestion. She can very well ignore it. I am not the owner of this Cafe, how can I prohibit Maya, the owner, from saying anything she wants to say? Use your sense.
I think what hurt me the most is what she said in her novel, that all blood shed in the massacre is not as worthy as one drop of her virgin blood. I was irritated when I first read this but kept quiet. I guess I just can't keep quiet on this forever. I never saw a person that can be self-indulgent like this, to tell the truth.
BTW, please don't mention to me. I didn't make talks here in these painful days because of . I talked because of the basic human conscience and common sense.
- posted on 06/05/2004
CND˼䶼顣ĵۺ˼CNDDZǿ
ҾµƺԴڶ۵ĵҪ۵ǡйδģʽѡӦڲƶȣģʽпܵģӦüѰǡйҪҪκȱݵƶȡ֮ףͬй֮Ϊû˵ΪȱйͲҪҲû˵й״ı϶йȱADAGIOӣӪķӪʣıˣͬ⡣϶ĴڲǶǰķĵҲֻ˵ΪʳƷṹ⣬ڸõʳƷȷӦøõġѵӣҲ˵ֻ绰ѡ֮䣬ֻûгũӦ״ҪκͨѶߡ
мλߵĹ۵˼СհߡŽĻκһҵ(¹ӢĶ)ܷõйȥһҲҪģ˾ͻζ (E) СȻߡû룬ûơ˲ɷһеǰᡣȺֵĽϸȺһȰοߣϣŲҪ鼮ȡ̬ȡӴģҪ֮Ч(bbeethovenn)Ҳпߣ ŲҪ̸Σ...please don't make me laugh (Adagio)
м⣺Ƽ˼DzǷ֮ĺһĽƵĿܣܷͨԵѡΪָһңȱйǷȨIJ걸
ҾöԵһĴǷģĴӦǿ϶ġʱ䣬һһϸɡܵ˵ܷԵʹĽ˵˶ΡҵDzܣұ롣һ潲ȻƵĶȱݼĽءܷױ˵ܷĵһĿγɡa more perfect unionܷĻҲǶΪҲperfectĿ϶ָƶȵIJ㣬Ƕ˼ϵķδƶȣȫģʽܻб֪ϵֻڲ֪ľ̬ˡǧ֮ȻˣڴʢĹһ
˭Ҳ֪δʲôġӿѧʷ֪һһɲģΪиɻĶͿһ©ԵĶиĴǰеĶЩõĿǰǵġϾ롱Ϲ롱֮С
Ǵһǿʢһʱ˥һ졣˵ȻõĻǣΰ
- posted on 06/06/2004
ȵ꿪ʼȤЩˡƽż죬ֻ绨ƣۻҡһΣDZտ߸կ壬ɴҽֿˡǴһ...ֱЦӢǽɱҪʵöѽɱĴըʱƮչȥȫɡȨšɱǴҪƻöࡣ:) ķɱǧˣDzбɱӰæһɱˣžƣʲôΡ:)
ЦЦ˵ʵڻлܽᡣҪ۵㰳ɲҹͬ˵ԶŷйƶȵȤǿ⣬Ƶȱݣǵ飬йԿǵġйҲܽͷչڵ⡣䡣йҪѧϰհᣬòҪκιģĸĶΪδʷ֤ġĽ
Ȼ״̬dzʱжĴҪֽΣоŷĹȥѧϰհΪƸĸˣ˵ - posted on 06/06/2004
ййӦѧϰйӦѭһĴĹ۵ͬϸЩ졣
С̱ѧϰһ֡йҪѧϰҪеؽŷƣܾIJ֡оŷȱݣǡ䲻⡱ڱ̶ֳȵ⡣DzûҲͲûܡ
ǷӦáȫհᡱ˵ˡйѧϰỵ̂ٴܷĹǹȨйξͺˡйũƺƵźǹֻսе־һ㣭ƽԭλӽϷһǼȤ顣
DzͱȻ漰ҪܷʼݡΪõ⣬漰ijЩ֡ܡṹСܾ⡣
Business Weekƪ (DOES YOUR VOTE MATTER?)ѡٵĽǶȣ̸ıײǰQΪԼ棬жҶáʣѵΪ˹棬Ͳһ䣬̸ãй˾̸ã:)
wrote:
ЦЦ˵ʵڻлܽᡣҪ۵㰳ɲҹͬ˵ԶŷйƶȵȤǿ⣬Ƶȱݣǵ飬йԿǵġйҲܽͷչڵ⡣䡣йҪѧϰհᣬòҪκιģĸĶΪδʷ֤ġĽ
Ȼ״̬dzʱжĴҪֽΣоŷĹȥѧϰհΪƸĸˣ˵ - posted on 06/09/2004
Just another school of thought on democracy, advocated by Prof. Zakaria in his recently published book, The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad. Zakaria has made several thought-provoking, but surely controversial, arguments. Among his positions are that democracy is not inherently good and its spread is not always benign; that democracy and freedom do not go hand-in-and and democracy may even pose a threat to liberty and freedom; and that the applicability of democracy is circumscribed by situations and may not be relevant in all societies.
As China embarks on an uncharted course to the unknown, its future will be defined and shaped by a higher ideology, now still absent or amorphous at best, to be contemplated by a few and shared by all. The search for this ideology calls for the involvement of each and every willing individual. The first step towards the journey is for us to have faith in such a mission and to believe that a better system can be born, through collective wisdom and synergized action, into currently democracy-deprived China.
A history of human civilization is a history of triumph over impossibilities. What a human mind can conceive and believe, it can also achieve. We need to keep an open mind, in our debate on the future of China, as did American Founding Fathers centuries ago, to entertain and embrace different ideas and opinions. What is known now is not a predicator of the future, but only a torch to illuminate it.
The editorial reviews below are excepts from Amazon.com.
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From Publishers Weekly
Democracy is not inherently good, Zakaria (From Wealth to Power) tells us in his thought-provoking and timely second book. It works in some situations and not others, and needs strong limits to function properly. The editor of Newsweek International and former managing editor of Foreign Affairs takes us on a tour of democracy's deficiencies, beginning with the reminder that in 1933 Germans elected the Nazis. While most Western governments are both democratic and liberal-i.e., characterized by the rule of law, a separation of powers, and the protection of basic rights-the two don't necessarily go hand in hand. Zakaria praises countries like Singapore, Chile and Mexico for liberalizing their economies first and then their political systems, and compares them to other Third World countries "that proclaimed themselves democracies immediately after their independence, while they were poor and unstable, [but] became dictatorships within a decade." But Zakaria contends that something has also gone wrong with democracy in America, which has descended into "a simple-minded populism that values popularity and openness." The solution, Zakaria says, is more appointed bodies, like the World Trade Organization and the U.S. Supreme Court, which are effective precisely because they are insulated from political pressures. Zakaria provides a much-needed intellectual framework for many current foreign policy dilemmas, arguing that the United States should support a liberalizing dictator like Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf, be wary of an elected "thug" like Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and take care to remake Afghanistan and Iraq into societies that are not merely democratic but free.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Newsweek International's editor exposes the down side of democracy, i.e., the assumption that what's popular is right.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
The spread of democracy threatens freedom? So argues journalist Zakaria in a provocative critique of political trends fast democratizing the entire globe. In numerous newly democratic countries, Zakaria sees elections serving not as a guarantee of liberty but rather as a legitimization of tyranny. Liberty, he argues, depends less on the will of the majority than it does on institutional safeguards for the rights of minorities. Lacking such safeguards, rude democracy has swept countries such as Venezuela, Russia, and the Central African Republic toward illiberal authoritarianism. Even in the U.S., Zakaria warns, the slide away from constitutional republicanism toward reflexive populism portends civic malaise. More broadly, Zakaria worries that a democratized American culture that panders to popular taste even in its museums, courtrooms, and churches may be losing the cultural resources necessary to sustain a regime of liberty. Zakaria does express buoyant hopes for a future in which capitalists liberalize international politics--even in China and Iraq--but he also lays out the sobering task of resolving the dilemmas of untrammeled democracy. Bryce Christensen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Peter Jennings, ABC News
A very thoughtful and intelligent book which is important for all Americans and those who would make American policy.
Washington Post
Book Description
Democracy has reshaped politics, economics, and culture around the world. This provocative book asks, can you have too much of a good thing?
Today we judge the value of every idea, institution, and individual by one test: is it popular? Or, more practically, do the majority of those polled like it? This transformation has affected not just politics but also business, law, culture, and even religion. Every institution and profession in society must democratize or die. Democracy has gone from being a form of government to a way of life.
Like any broad transformation, however, the trends that democracy unleashes are not uniformly benign. Democracy has its dark sides, yet to question it has been to provoke instant criticism that you are "out of sync" with the times. No more. With an easy command of history, philosophy, and current affairs, Zakaria reinterprets our past and outlines our future. Woodrow Wilson said the challenge of the twentieth century was to make the world safe for democracy. This penetrating book challenges us to make democracy safe for the world.
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