Democracy

Stories from the Long Road to Freedom

De: Condoleezza Rice

Narrado por: Grace Angela Henry

From the former secretary of state and best-selling author - a sweeping look at the global struggle for democracy and why America must continue to support the cause of human freedom.

From the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union to the ongoing struggle for human rights in the Middle East, Condoleezza Rice has served on the front lines of history. As a child, she was an eyewitness to a third awakening of freedom, when her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, became the epicenter of the civil rights movement for Black Americans.

In this book, Rice explains what these epochal events teach us about democracy. At a time when people around the world are wondering whether democracy is in decline, Rice shares insights from her experiences as a policymaker, scholar, and citizen, in order to put democracy's challenges into perspective.

When the United States was founded, it was the only attempt at self-government in the world. Today more than half of all countries qualify as democracies, and in the long run that number will continue to grow. Yet nothing worthwhile ever comes easily. Using America's long struggle as a template, Rice draws lessons for democracy around the world - from Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, to Kenya, Colombia, and the Middle East. She finds that no transitions to democracy are the same because every country starts in a different place. Pathways diverge and sometimes circle backward. Time frames for success vary dramatically, and countries often suffer false starts before getting it right. But, Rice argues, that does not mean they should not try. While the ideal conditions for democracy are well known in academia, they never exist in the real world. The question is not how to create perfect circumstances but how to move forward under difficult ones.

These same insights apply in overcoming the challenges faced by governments today. The pursuit of democracy is a continuing struggle shared by people around the world, whether they are opposing authoritarian regimes, establishing new democratic institutions, or reforming mature democracies to better live up to their ideals. The work of securing it is never finished.

©2017 Condoleezza Rice (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Condoleezza Rice serves as an able and insightful guide in this journey through democracy across the globe. Her knowledge and clear-eyed assessment of the challenges facing this system of government make this book an important contribution to a pressing debate on democracy today." (Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations)

A global exploration of democratic institutions

This is a must listen for anyone interested in the study of democratic function globally, and it's associated struggles. Ms. Rice is clearly a respected expert on the subject and draws upon her wealth of experience to craft a story that is engaging, interesting, and that has never been more important. This is not a political by nature, which is what initially drew me to the book. Rather, this examines institutions and measures that are vital to the sustained success of any democracy.

The performance is wonderful as well. Grace Angela Henry has an incredibly similar diction to Condoleezza, which makes the performance seem personal.

I particularly enjoyed the sections of democracies in Eastern Europe, including present day Ukraine, Poland, Russia and the former USSR. Her background as a soviet specialist makes for a deeply personal interpretation of modern and historical realities.

Wonderful and brilliant!

I highly recommend every American, and all others, should read this and learn from it.

Excellent

It is wonder ful to be briefed by Secretery Rice, her devotion to democracy is inspiring and highly informative. Condi for President 2020!

Awesome book

If you are unsure what the American effort is in furthering democracy around the world you need to listen to or read this book. If you think differently from that, just read the book period. Very educational and a must read for high school or college students.

Expert

She is world leader material. Too bad she is smart enough not to get into politics.

One of the best books on political policy

Learning about successes and failures of democracy as a governing framework was very enlightening. I think everyone in the world would benefit from reading this book. Ms. Rice makes the struggle for democracy real through fascinating personal anecdotes. Her final chapter on lessons learned distilled the principles shown in the book.

Considerate and insightful

Any additional comments?

A very thoughtful book from former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. Rice uses her own personal experiences in a number of countries (including the United States) to discuss the factors at play in successful democracies and highlighting the difficulty of creating and maintaining democracies. From her childhood in the Jim Crow south all the way to the populist world elections of 2016, she explores the dangers to democracy and the tenant that it is something that should be encouraged and fought for. Her vantage point as parts of both Bush 41 and Bush 43's administrations allows insight into the challenges that faced a reconstituted Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Iraq, Egypt, Liberia, and Columbia (among others). Some of her points have been made in more depth and academic rigor (particularly in Frances Fukuyama's books on political order), but this book acts as a less dense and more approachable look at the steady march of democracy across the globe. She stresses that while there are setbacks and no democracy is ever perfected, but a continuous work in progress, that Churchill was right about democracy "being the worst form of government, except for all the others." For those looking for some details from the inside about the turmoil and mistakes in Iraq, that is discussed (though not as fully as some might like). In the end, this is a considered and careful evaluation of democracy in the late 20th and early 21st century and a challenge to the United States to continue to support burgeoning democracy, to turn aside from isolationism and the like, and to continue to try to live up to our best principles.

Excellent!

Comprehensive overview of several nations' struggle for democracy that works for them and why the US should support their efforts.

A Case for Democracy

This book is Condoleezza Rice’s attempt to inform the reader about the idea of democracy promotion as a key goal for United States foreign policy. Rice states that the United States engaged in a policy of global engagement and the global extension of democracy. She states Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama worked within this overall framework. She has concerns about President Trump’s America First policy. Rice was the first black female Secretary of State and the second female Secretary of State.

Rice reviews the success and failures of democracy in various countries. Some of the countries she discusses are Russia, Egypt and Nigeria. I found the review of the situation in the Ukraine helpful particularly how Russia interfered in its election process. Rice reviewed the history and how the Ukraine got into its current situation. She describes the success of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia as a country where democracy has taken hold after a terrible civil war.

The book is well written and researched. Rice is an honest and sincere writer. She is candid about the times that democracy promotion has led to costly mistakes. She is forthright about mistakes in Iraq. She says democracy promotion is very hard work. I do not know if Rice will successfully change the mind of skeptics of democracy promotion, but everyone will be better educated and informed after reading this book.

The book is about thirteen hours long. Grace Angela Henry did a good job narrating the book. Henry is an actor, voice over artist, multi-lingual, award-winning audiobook narrator.

Clear, insightful, and passionately presented.

Democracy is an ideal that is obviously dear to the author's heart. Her experience on the world stage allows her to present concrete examples of personal observation. Her background in both politics and education comes through on every page as does her desire to see all peoples of the world realize peace and freedom, recognizing that those goals require hard work, effort, and sacrifice.