Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe most serious effort in years to rethink whether and how the United States should support democracy in the Middle East. Hamid's sharp challenges to both skeptics and supporters of conventional democracy policy will unsettle some readers. But his willingness to put forward a deeply felt set of genuinely new ideas—applicable not just in the Middle East but globally—makes the journey highly stimulating and worthwhile. * Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace *
In this remarkable book, Hamid argues that US policymakers mustn't give up on democracy in the Middle East, but rather they must come to terms with how their inaccurate assumptions about Islam and politics alongside American geo-strategic priorities have hindered democratic progress in the region. Hamid convincingly argues for a 'democracy first' approach in the Middle East that is responsive to citizen democratic aspirations across the region. * Amaney A. Jamal, Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University *
Impactful books make you rethink fundamental assumptions. The Problem of Democracy does exactly that. Before reading Hamid's new book, I embraced the conventional wisdom on the intertwined relationship between promoting liberalism and democracy as well as the US need to disengage from the Middle East. I now see the value of supporting 'democratic minimalism.' Anyone interested in new thinking about democracy promotion and the Middle East must read this terrific book. * Michael McFaul, Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia *
Shadi Hamid draws on the experiences of the Middle East to address the vexing question at the heart of the crisis of democracy in the West. Is democracy an absolute good, or is it good only when it produces good outcomes? Hamid goes beyond usual arguments about democratic values to make cogent and incisive observations, forcing the reader to rethink what we commonly expect of democracy. Hamid is an original thinker, and this book is an important and timely contribution. * Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies *
Table of ContentsPreface 1. Is Democracy Worth Supporting? 2. Democratic Minimalism in Theory and Practice 3. The Problem of Islam 4. Democratic Dilemmas: Egypt, Jordan, and Algeria 5. The American Veto 6. Culture versus Interests 7. Anti- Despotism or Democracy Promotion? 8. Islamists in Government 9. On Hypocrisy 10. On Power Notes Index
