Is democracy worth supporting? -- Democratic minimalism in theory and practice -- The problem of Islam -- Democratic dilemmas : Egypt, Jordan, Algeria -- The American veto -- Culture versus interests -- Anti-despotism or democracy promotion? -- Islamists in government -- On hypocrisy -- On power
Summary
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. To look then at the democratic dilemma 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. In The Problem of Democracy, Shadi Hamid offers an ambitious reimagining of this ongoing debate and argues
