Marc F. Plattner Bücher

The last quarter of the twentieth century was marked by two dramatic political trends that altered many of the world's regimes: the global resurgence of democracy and the collapse of communism. Was the process that brought down communism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union fundamentally different from the process that gave birth to new democracies in other regions of the world? Were the transitions away from communism mostly like or mostly unlike the transitions away from authoritarianism that took place elsewhere? Is the challenge of building and consolidating democracy under postcommunist conditions unique, or can one apply lessons learned from other new democracies? The essays collected in this volume explore these questions, while tracing how the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have fared in the decade following the fall of communism.

; Ziya Önis; Koç University; Soli Ozel, Bilgi University, Istanbul; William Quandt, University of Virginia; Jillian Schwedler, University of Maryland, College Park; Jean-François Seznec, Columbia University and Georgetown University; Emmanuel Sivan, Hebrew University; Mohamed Talbi, independent scholar; Robin Wright, Los Angeles Times.

For more than twenty years, the Journal of Democracy has been a leading voice in the conversation between scholars and practitioners about government by consent and its place in the contemporary world. If democracy means anything, it means robust debates. Over the years, the pages of the Journal have certainly seen their share of lively and illuminating scholarly disagreements. As a service to students and teachers who wish to deepen their understanding of the questions and controversies that surround contemporary democratization, the Journal has now brought together a series of exchanges on the topic. Debates on Democratization explores the issues of democratic consolidation, the reality of the transition paradigm, the advisability of attempting to “sequence” elections and other liberal-democratic reforms, the nature and prospects of the “color revolutions” in the former Eastern Bloc, and the relative merits of presidentialism and its alternatives from the point of view of democratic governance and stability. The volume is filled with insightful, thought-provoking arguments by leading thinkers in the field. Graduate and undergraduate students alike will find it a useful guide to key issues facing emerging democracies today.

This comprehensive survey explores the key debates shaping U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. Following the Soviet Union's collapse, scholars have sought to understand the new international landscape. This collection showcases the insights of prominent thinkers, including Francis Fukuyama, Samuel P. Huntington, and Fareed Zakaria, who analyze the driving forces behind global events and America's response. Central questions addressed include the significance of ideology, culture, and power, as well as the future of global order versus chaos. The contributors examine the strength and vulnerabilities of the United States and discuss the appropriate use of its power for protection. Engaging with each other's arguments, these authors provide a rich dialogue that educates readers on contemporary international relations. Originally published in leading journals, these articles form an essential reading list for those interested in understanding current global dynamics. Notable contributors include Fouad Ajami, Richard K. Betts, Stephen G. Brooks, Robert D. Kaplan, and Stephen M. Walt, among others.