Never Again: Never Again Series Supplement

Never Again

by R.J. Rummel

A factual supplement to the Never Again Series, Rummel's research website, and his blogs. The book also provides an essential understanding of the theoretical and historical basis of President George Bush's democratic peace foreign policy -- his Forward Strategy of Freedom, which is based on Rummel's research. It argues philosophically, and from international law, that individual freedom is the most basic human right. This, and that freedom is a natural desire of all people, would be enough to justify freedom for everyone. But, the major substance of Never Again goes far beyond these justifications to establish that freedom is also a Moral Good. One Moral Good is that liberal democracies, those whose people are individually free with secure civil and political rights and liberties, don't make war on each other, as President Bush has stated correctly in support of his foreign policy. Another is that their democratic governments do not murder them. And a third is that their internal political violence is minimal compared to non-democracies. All this alone would make freedom the foremost Moral Good. But this book also shows that free people -- democracies -- never have famines, and that freedom is an engine of the greatest wealth and development among nations. In short, to the Moral Imperative, "No people should ever suffer war, democide, famine, and mass impoverishment, no, never again," this book proves that fostering individual freedom is the practical way to assure this.

Genres: Historical Fiction

252 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2004

Reviews

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat contentious analysis of the genocides and mass murders perpetrated by state and state-sponsored actors during the 20th century. The main questionable point would be the assumption of a lower degree of violence towards the world by democratic republics and other more liberal and UN-convention abiding countries. As it is, the subject of state violence and terror, as well as the origin of violent states demands further attention and further analysis, the prof. Rummel's book could make for a great introduction, but it is not, by all means exhaustive and complete