cover image The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West Is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy

The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West Is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy

Brian Klaas. Oxford Univ., $27.95 (256p) ISBN 978-0-190668-01-3

This efficient and thought-provoking plea for the U.S. and other Western countries to prioritize democracy promotion is a must-read, especially with the pending development of President Trump’s foreign policy. Klaas, a fellow in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, is no armchair academic, and his analyses of policymaking challenges are informed by extensive, and sometimes dangerous, field work. This accessible read does not sacrifice depth for breadth as Klaas reviews the history of democracy before making convincing cases for his 10 principles for nurturing its expansion, which include “stop trying to improve democracy with war,” and “encourage new democracies to include the old regime during transitions.” He’s a vigorous opponent of Kissinger-style realpolitik, but he also advocates positions that he anticipates will be opposed by the left. The volume’s seriousness, appropriate given democracy’s global decline over the past decade, is leavened by gallows humor, as when he notes that a USAID program reported that Cambodia had exceeded expectations for democratic values—a year after an anti-democratic coup. Klaas is able to make his points simply and clearly, as in his observation that democracy, like free speech, must be protected regardless of whether it yields a preferred result. (Apr.)

This review has been corrected; an earlier version stated the book would publish in May rather than April.