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Democracy in Retreat: The Revolt of the Middle Class and the Worldwide Decline of Representative Government
Since the end of the Cold War, the assumption among most political theorists has been that as nations develop economically, they will also become more democratic—especially if a vibrant middle class takes root. This assumption underlies the expansion of the European Union and much of American foreign policy, bolstered by such examples as South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and even to some extent Russia. Where democratization has failed or retreated, aberrant conditions take the Islamism, authoritarian Chinese influence, or perhaps the rise of local autocrats. But what if the failures of democracy are not exceptions? In this thought-provoking study of democratization, Joshua Kurlantzick proposes that the spate of retreating democracies, one after another over the past two decades, is not just a series of exceptions. Instead, it reflects a new and disturbing democracy in worldwide decline. The author investigates the state of democracy in a variety of countries, why the middle class has turned against democracy in some cases, and whether the decline in global democratization is reversible.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 17, 2013
Kurlantzick's book's focus is heavily weighted toward analyzing trends, using statistical data and international ratings to assess the current state of democracy worldwide. But it comes up short on analysis, and it begs the question: so what? The book provides a fairly convincing case for the decline of democracy in the 2000s, but the author doesn't fully explain the significance or implications of his findings.
May 9, 2022
Both a timely and foresightful read. It was written in 2012/2013 and has some interesting takes on what would happen that did or didn't as I read it in 2022. The execution of the underlining theory was really good and his optimism that democracy will be okay was much appreciated.
September 14, 2014
Disappointment in Democracy
This is more of a treatise than a piece of literary nonfiction, and as with most such pieces of writing, the overlong title virtually tells the story. The author has done an admirable job of collecting data and anecdotes to support his thesis here, which is one of high hopes dashed.
The U.S., he writes, has been the primary nation actively trying to export democracy, and perhaps too over zealous in doing so. His concern isn’t our misadventures in Vietnam, South America and more recently, Iraq. Instead, it’s our more peaceful efforts to create democracies around the world. However, there has been all too much emphasis on the various electoral processes in doing so, and too little emphasis on policies, including the educational, to support permanent democratic reform. As a result, many democracies of the twentieth century have failed,returning to oligarchies, dictatorships, or other, more repressive forms of representative government.
The poor, of course, have borne the primary disappointments here, but in many countries, the middle classes have become disenchanted with the democratic process. In all too many cases, upsetting the status quo has shrunken and disturbed the middle classes, which were both part of the ladder of societal ascendance and a buffer between poor and risk, disenfranchised and powerful. Much of the frustration here has been that more repressive societies, such as China, seem to achieve economic success while many democratic countries founder economically due to the decision-making inefficiencies of most democratic states.
To this reader, the author spends too much time citing one case history after another and too little trying to map our way of his quagmire. Still he does a service in tacitly insisting that perhaps democracy is a product of social evolution - little more than a mere accident in the establishment of the U.S.
My rating: 15 of 20 stars
This is more of a treatise than a piece of literary nonfiction, and as with most such pieces of writing, the overlong title virtually tells the story. The author has done an admirable job of collecting data and anecdotes to support his thesis here, which is one of high hopes dashed.
The U.S., he writes, has been the primary nation actively trying to export democracy, and perhaps too over zealous in doing so. His concern isn’t our misadventures in Vietnam, South America and more recently, Iraq. Instead, it’s our more peaceful efforts to create democracies around the world. However, there has been all too much emphasis on the various electoral processes in doing so, and too little emphasis on policies, including the educational, to support permanent democratic reform. As a result, many democracies of the twentieth century have failed,returning to oligarchies, dictatorships, or other, more repressive forms of representative government.
The poor, of course, have borne the primary disappointments here, but in many countries, the middle classes have become disenchanted with the democratic process. In all too many cases, upsetting the status quo has shrunken and disturbed the middle classes, which were both part of the ladder of societal ascendance and a buffer between poor and risk, disenfranchised and powerful. Much of the frustration here has been that more repressive societies, such as China, seem to achieve economic success while many democratic countries founder economically due to the decision-making inefficiencies of most democratic states.
To this reader, the author spends too much time citing one case history after another and too little trying to map our way of his quagmire. Still he does a service in tacitly insisting that perhaps democracy is a product of social evolution - little more than a mere accident in the establishment of the U.S.
My rating: 15 of 20 stars
September 1, 2014
Twenty-five years after Francis Fukuyama published his famous 'End of History' article in the The National Interest, liberal democracy is, far from being on the march, seemingly in retreat in many regions around the world. While the author points our various reasons for this, four in particular stand out: slow growth and inequality, corruption, Western weakness, and the existence of a successful, non-democratic development model in China. Since none of these factors seem to be lessening any time soon, the prospect for a prolonged 'democratic recession' seem assured.
Overall, a dispiriting and depressing read. We seem to be in the midst of a '30s or '70s moment.
Overall, a dispiriting and depressing read. We seem to be in the midst of a '30s or '70s moment.
October 31, 2018
Published in 2013, this book looks at democratic backsliding in several developing countries. The author considers the possible reasons for this, including the rise of China and the decline of the US and Western model. He also looks at how Russia and China tried to undermine democracy in countries in their "spheres of influence." He finishes with some suggestions for how the US can better work to promote democracy. The book is well-written, and if anything, the situation has gotten worse since it was published. Hopefully, the author will publish a sequel and discuss the state of democracy in the western world.
August 19, 2013
A very interesting book that explains clearly and thoroughly the reasons for the recent failings of democracy and in democratic spirit round the world. In particular it attacks the ideas of democracy being linked to economic growth and that the middle class drives democratic reform.
Already slightly outdated though regarding the Arab Spring, due to the rapid events in Tunisia, Libya and especially Egypt and Syria. The book can't really be blamed for this though.
Already slightly outdated though regarding the Arab Spring, due to the rapid events in Tunisia, Libya and especially Egypt and Syria. The book can't really be blamed for this though.
July 8, 2014
There is lots of good history lessons and loads of statistical data in this book, however, it never comes together in a tangible way. I found this book very hard to get and stay engaged with, I only finished it so as to say I gave it a fair shake before writing a review.
September 29, 2018
大量的數據來描述各民主政府面對經濟不振、貪汚、社會不穩定、貧富差距大和社會不公平等問題。
但是只有數據與事實，缺乏觀點。
但是只有數據與事實，缺乏觀點。
August 12, 2016
Interesting and thought provoking.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews