The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and AbroadA modern classic that uses historical analysis to shed light on the present, The Future of Freedom is, as the Chicago Tribune put it, "essential reading for anyone worried about the promotion and preservation of liberty." Hailed by the New York Times as "brave and ambitious...updated Tocqueville," it enjoyed extended stays on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller lists and has been translated into eighteen languages. Prescient in laying out the distinction between democracy and liberty, the book now contains a new afterword on the United States's occupation of Iraq. "Intensely provocative and valuable," according to BusinessWeek, with an easy command of history, philosophy, and current affairs, The Future of Freedom calls for a restoration of the balance between liberty and democracy and shows how politics and government can be made effective and relevant for our time. |
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American Arab world aristocracy authoritarian authority autocrats became become Bernard Lewis British California candidate capitalism central China Christian church civil Congress constitutional liberalism countries created culture decades delegates democ democratic dictatorships direct democracy East Asia economic Egypt elections elites ethnic Europe European fact FAREED ZAKARIA federal fundamentalist groups illiberal independent India institutions interest Iran Islam Islamic fundamentalism J. P. Morgan king land leaders Lee Kuan Yew legislature legitimacy liberal democracy liberty majority ment Middle East million modern monarchs moved Muslim nomic percent political parties political system politicians president problem produced Proposition 13 Putin racy ratic referendums reform regimes regional religion religious Republican result revolution rich rulers Russia Saudi Arabia scholars secular social society Soviet Third World tion tradition twentieth century United vote voters Washington West Western York youth bulge
Popular passages
Page 17 - West, democracy has meant liberal democracy — a political system marked not only by free and fair elections, but also by the rule of law, a separation of powers, and the protection of basic liberties of speech, assembly, religion, and property.
Page 7 - As they approached the Sirens' island, the sea was calm, and over the waters came the notes of music so ravishing and attractive that Ulysses struggled to get loose and, by cries and signs to his people, begged to be released; but they, obedient to his previous orders, sprang forward and bound him still faster. They held on their course, and the music grew fainter till it ceased to be heard, when with joy Ulysses gave his companions the signal to unseal their ears, and they relieved him from his...
Page 7 - ... forgotten his native land, and to have reconciled himself to an inglorious life of ease and pleasure. At length his companions recalled him to nobler sentiments, and he received their admonition gratefully. Circe aided their departure, and instructed them how to pass safely by the coast of the Sirens. The Sirens were seanymphs who had the power of charming by their song all who heard them, so that the unhappy mariners were irresistibly impelled to cast themselves into the sea to their destruction.
Page 19 - To have democracy mean, subjectively, "a good government" renders it analytically useless. Constitutional liberalism, on the other hand, is not about the procedures for selecting government, but rather government's goals. It refers to the tradition, deep in Western history, that seeks to protect an individual's autonomy and dignity against coercion, whatever the source — state, church, or society. The term marries two closely connected ideas. It is liberal because it draws on the philosophical...
Page 26 - America! America! God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!