August 4, 2006

A Disquieting Sense of Déjà Vu

By HOWARD G. BROWN

Extremist violence threatened liberal democracy, posing grave challenges for a political class riven by systemic corruption and bitter partisanship. Leaders resorted to whatever tactics could help them retain power, regardless of the consequences to the political system. Citizens quickly grew disillusioned by democratic politics, and voter participation declined at each election. The government, fearing that mere policing could not preserve the republic from threats to its security, turned to

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