The Case For DemocracyNatan Sharansky believes that the truest expression of democracy is the ability to stand in the middle of a town square and express one's views without fear of imprisonment. He should know. A dissident in the USSR, Sharansky was jailed for nine years for challenging Soviet policies. During that time he reinforced his moral conviction that democracy is essential to both protecting human rights and maintaining global peace and security. Sharansky was catapulted onto the Israeli political stage in 1996. In the last eight years, he has served as a minister in four different Israeli cabinets, including a stint as Deputy Prime Minister, playing a key role in government decision making from the peace negotiations at Wye to the war against Palestinian terror. In his views, he has been as consistent as he has been stubborn: Tyranny, whether in the Soviet Union or the Middle East, must always be made to bow before democracy. Drawing on a lifetime of experience of democracy and its absence, Sharansky believes that only democracy can safeguard the well-being of societies. For Sharansky, when it comes to democracy, politics is not a matter of left and right, but right and wrong. This is a passionately argued book from a man who carries supreme moral authority to make the case he does here: that the spread of democracy everywhere is not only possible, but also essential to the survival of our civilization. His argument is sure to stir controversy on all sides; this is arguably the great issue of our times. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 46
... live in despotism " 22 or that Islam , the faith of one - fifth of humanity , " is consistent with democracy " 23 why should we believe him ? Perhaps the peo- ple in the Middle East are condemned to live in tyranny . Perhaps democracy ...
... live in freedom , the vast majority of them will never want to live in fear again . To suggest , as the skeptics do , that the majority of a people would freely choose to live in a fear society is to suggest that most of those who have ...
... live in a free society and to improve their lives , telling them that they “ deserve democracy and the rule of law , " " an open society and a thriving economy , " and " a life of hope for your children . " He outlined what type of ...
Contents
Introduction I | 1 |
Is Freedom for Everyone? | 18 |
A Free Society and a Fear Society | 39 |
Copyright | |
4 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror Natan Sharansky,Ron Dermer No preview available - 2005 |