February 24, 2006

Democracy's Visions and Divisions

By IRVING LOUIS HOROWITZ

Critics of the Bush administration dismiss the export of democracy as a rationale derived as afterthought for the invasion of Iraq. Besides, you cannot promote democracy, the oppositional boilerplate goes, at the end of a gun barrel. What a sensible retort — except that it is not necessarily true. Nor does a slide into authoritarianism necessarily proceed at the end of a gun barrel.

Impressive arguments can be made in support of democracy promotion or in opposition to it.

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