The Democratization Disconnect

Reviews / Votes

Grodsky writes in an accessible fashion. But the Democratization Disconnect seems to be born of his frustrations while serving briefly in the US embassies in Tashkent and Warsaw. Adopting a contrarian view of democratization, Grodsky derides an international community that has generated 'superstar status' to democracy by raising unachievable expectations for universal human dignity. Like many who have seen too many democracy promotion efforts fall far short, Grodsky deploys widely varied case studies to demonstrate the absence of a worldwide success for democratic legitimation. But is the hope for human dignity truly a false internationally endorsed bill of goods offered up by savvy revolutionaries of any stripe? That Grodsky has positioned himself in the democratization debate via such a provocative view is, at the very least, commendable. A...comprehensive bibliography is included. Recommended for undergraduates and graduate students in comparative and international politics. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE * Challenging widespread assumptions that the most recent democratic wave was about political liberty, Grodsky expertly shows that participants in the revolutions that took place during the past two decades in Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and some Arab countries fought primarily for economic rights while acting in the name of political ones. This is a compelling book recommended for all those interested in the future of democracy and democratization around the world. -- Lavinia Stan, St. Francis Xavier University Brian Grodsky has written a thoughtful and important book about how the notion of democracy has been used by various ideological movements over time. His work reflects a strong understanding of history and raises critical questions about the future of democracy. Everyone concerned about peace and security should read this incisive analysis. -- Lincoln Mitchell, author of The Democracy Promotion Paradox Grodsky's sweeping overview of the disappointing results of diverse democratic revolutions throughout the modern era is a sobering reminder that future social support for democratic institutions cannot be taken for granted. On the contrary, Grodsky shows clearly that when democracy fails, it is all too easy for authoritarian ideologues of various stripes to hijack unfulfilled mass demands for 'human dignity.' At a time when the fate of global democracy is more uncertain than at any point since the end of the Cold War, The Democratization Disconnect is sure to provoke widespread and salutary debate. -- Stephen E. Hanson, William and Mary