The Failure of Democratic Nation Building: Ideology Meets Evolution

In this timely account, Somit and Peterson argue that humans are social primates with an innate tendency for hierarchical and authoritarian social and political structures, and that democracy requires very special 'enabling conditions' before it can be supported by a state, conditions that require decades to evolve.

Throughout history authoritarian governments have outnumbered democratic ones to an overwhelming degree. Even today, true democracies are an exception. In this book, Somit and Peterson argue that the main reason for this pattern is that humans are social primates with an innate tendency for hierarchical and authoritarian social and political structures. Democracy requires very special 'enabling conditions' before it can be supported by a state, conditions that require decades to evolve. As a result, attempts to export democracy through nation-building to states without these enabling conditions are doomed to failure. The authors argue that money and energy devoted to nation-building around the globe by the U.S. would be better spent on problems facing the country domestically.

'Al Somit and Steve Peterson have written a book that is provocative, unconventional, and all too persuasive. Even if U.S. policies were more thoughtful and consistent, the efforts to create democratic regimes in the Third World are likely to fail: given the trajectory of genetic and cultural evolution, most of us are more comfortable with social systems that are stratified and hierarchical. Democracy requires eternal vigilance, which is a lot of trouble. With a choice between the liberté, egalité, and fraternité trinity and the combination of security and prosperity, most of us will settle for the latter.'- J. David Singer, University of Michigan, USA

Autorentext
ALBERT SOMIT is Professor Emeritus at Southern Illinois University, USA. He has served as Executive Vice-President of SUNY-Buffalo and President of Southern Illinois University. He is a pioneer of biopolitics.

STEVEN A. PETERSON is Professor of Politics, Penn State University at Harrisburg, USA and Director of its School of Public Affairs. He has authored or edited 15 books, mostly in the area of public policy. His research interests include political behaviour, political psychology, and biology and politics.

Zusammenfassung
Democracy requires very special 'enabling conditions' before it can be supported by a state, conditions that require decades to evolve. As a result, attempts to export democracy through nation-building to states without these enabling conditions are doomed to failure.

Inhalt
Forward Introduction Authoritarian Government: The Default Option What Is a Democracy?: Toward a Working Definition Democratic Nation Building: From Concept to Operational 'Check List' Democracy: The Requisite 'Enabling Conditions' - No Small Order Will the Real Democracies Please Stand Up? American Nation Building, 1945-2005: Costs and Consequences The Fourth 'Whereas' 'Therefore Be It Resolved...': Toward More Realistic Foreign and Domestic Policies