Outsourcing Democracy

Authors discussed U.S. efforts to encourage the formation of democracies abroad. The panelists examined what is meant by “democracy,” the problem of popularly elected tyrannies versus democracy imposed by force, and the value of examples of democracy and the value of populations freeing themselves. They discussed the confusion caused by the use of the term “outsourcing,” which leads to an inoperable model. They also discussed the dangers of isolationism. After their discussion the panelists responded to questions from members of the audience. The panel “Outsourcing Democracy: Can it Work?” was moderated by Russell Jacoby.

David Harris is the author of The Crisis: The President, the Prophet, and the Shah - 1979 and the Coming of Militant Islam, published by Little, Brown. Jonathan Schell is the author of The Jonathan Schell Reader: On the United States at War, the Long Crisis of the American Republic, and the Fate of the Earth, published by Nation Books. Amy Wilentz is the author of Martyrs' Crossing, published by Ballantine, and The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier, published by Touchstone. Russell Jacoby is the author of Picture Imperfect: Utopian Thought for an Anti-Utopian Age, published by Columbia University Press. close