| Summary/Abstract |
After the Cold War ended, it looked like democracy was on the
march. But that con#dent optimism was misplaced. With the
bene#t ofhindsight, it is clear that it was naive to expect democracy to spread to all corners ofthe world. The authoritarian turn
ofrecent years re4ects the 4aws and failings ofdemocratic systems.
Most analyses ofthe precarious state ofcontemporary democracy
begin with a similar depiction. They are not altogether incorrect.
But they omit an important part ofthe picture. The story ofthe last
two decades is not just one ofdemocratic weakness; it is also one of
authoritarian strength.
|