The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea by Hamid, Shadi
The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea by Hamid, Shadi

The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea

Shadi Hamid reimagines the ongoing debate on democracy's merits and proposes an ambitious agenda for reviving the...
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
SKU: 9780197579466
Product Type: Books
Please hurry! Only 8607 left in stock
Author: Shadi Hamid
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Subtotal: CHF 38.76
10 customers are viewing this product
The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea by Hamid, Shadi

The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea

CHF 38.76
The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea by Hamid, Shadi

The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea

CHF 38.76
Author: Shadi Hamid
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Description
Shadi Hamid reimagines the ongoing debate on democracy's merits and proposes an ambitious agenda for reviving the lost art of democracy promotion in the world's most undemocratic regions.

What happens when democracy produces bad outcomes? Is democracy good because of its outcomes or despite them? This democratic dilemma is one of the most persistent, vexing problems for America abroad, particularly in the Middle East--we want democracy in theory but not necessarily in practice.

When Islamist parties rise to power through free elections, the United States has too often been ambivalent or opposed, preferring instead pliable dictators. With this legacy of democratic disrespect in mind, and drawing on new interviews with top American officials, Shadi Hamid explores universal questions of morality, power, and hypocrisy. Why has the United States failed so completely to live up to its own stated ideals in the Arab world? And is it possible for it to change?

In The Problem of Democracy, Hamid offers an ambitious reimagining of this ongoing debate and argues for democratic minimalism as a path to resolving democratic dilemmas in the Middle East and beyond. In the seemingly eternal tension between democracy and liberalism, recognized by the ancient Greeks and the American founders alike, it may be time to prioritize one over the other, rather than acting as if the two are intertwined when increasingly they are not.

At the end of the Cold War, the democratic idea was victorious, so much so that it took on more meaning than it could bear. Democracy became a means to other ends, whether it was liberalism, economic development, or cultural progress. What if, instead, democracy was reconceptualized as its own end? What if the people are right even when they're wrong?

The problem of democracy is no longer just a Middle Eastern problem. The polarizing effects of identity, culture, and religion are now haunting the world's oldest democracies. At home, a growing number of Americans are realizing that respecting election results when the other side wins is easier said than done. To look then at the democratic dilemma abroad is to consider a deeper set of questions around why we believe democracy is good as well as whether we think it is good for other nations and cultures.


Author: Shadi Hamid
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 10/15/2022
Pages: 312
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.29lbs
Size: 9.36h x 6.44w x 1.08d
ISBN: 9780197579466
Shipping & Return

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.

Review

Related Products

Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76
Example product title
CHF 38.76
CHF 38.76

Recently Viewed Products