Late to read this- the ending packs a real punch. “If America removes the promotion of democracy from its foreign policy… ceases to interest itself in the fate of other democracies and democratic movements, then autocracies will quickly take our place.”
Late to read this- the ending packs a real punch. “If America removes the promotion of democracy from its foreign policy… ceases to interest itself in the fate of other democracies and democratic movements, then autocracies will quickly take our place.”
And in the context of the current Ukraine crisis, many ask, why should Americans care. Applebaum’s conclusion: “If Americans, together with our allies, fail to fight the habits and practices of autocracy abroad, we will encounter them at home; indeed, they are already are.”
@clarissaward I hate to tell you this....but the US is not required to be the world policeman. Until you break the back of the tribal system in A'stan. There will not be democracy.
@clarissaward The move by the autocracies would be near-instantaneous. A good cautionary tale, among others, is Ukraine under the Yanukovych regime. He yielded a yard to Russia, and Russia took a mile. Even before Maidan.
@clarissaward I think of the Winter Olympics in China? I remember watching the 🇨🇳 doubles match of ping pongers at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, and it was filled with profanity in Chinese. We would have bleeped it, if they shouted in English. Weird what a county chooses to censor.
@clarissaward @anneapplebaum Who have seen any US action previliging democracy??
@clarissaward . not sure the US generally cares how democratic the opposition to Putin is, as long as it's vs. Putin. In Syria, Egypt, the US was almost ostentatious in its disinterest re democracy. 'bad men' in MENA, Gulf are ok with the US.
@clarissaward True but where do U draw the line? We certainly have many unfunded needs here that GOP blocks and yet quickly agrees with massive foreign aid.
@clarissaward @bianca_nobilo Well that is what is happening in their own country!!
@clarissaward @anneapplebaum I don't agree with Anne here. It is not that simple. The involvement in regime changes in Latin America often led to authoritarian systems. Huntington would argue not enough political institutionalization. Nevertheless it did not lead to more democracy. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St…