Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
by Cornel West
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Book Summary Information
Author: Cornel WestEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-08-30
ISBN: 0143035835
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Reviews of Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
Book Review: After reading this book, come back to comments and find the real horror is the state of intellect and awareness of the masses
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoy a book which addresses topics in a way that makes one think and relish the possibilities, rather than be spoon fed words and concepts that I feel absolutely certain or comfortable about. I found this book a very interesting and stimulating read. I miss an associate of mine with whom I could agree to disagree or at least we enjoyed playing devil's advocate for each other. That is where cognitive and real-world experiences are prone to re-evaluation and potential growth either through change or confirmation.
Reading some of these reviews is scarier than some of the REAL concerns about our country and lack of wisdom in our leaders and the real power controllers of policy and progress, and i use progress in an optimistic way here. IF this is a sampling of how individuals respond to new or disagreeable discussions, then we are missing the power of discourse that promotes growth and solutions by collaborative discussions of other considerations, options, observations, or, even revealing, misunderstandings.
Being aware that our country is rapidly spinning out of control and off the very foundation of democratic freedoms and solutions to both our and the world problems, it is easy to see how difficult it is to address these matters when the falsehoods and fallacies of the current state of our affairs is so ignored and/or denied. Has there really been progress for all to share and rise up to their full potential with hopes of also raising the bar on US standards, yet alone raising the bar for living standards worldwide.
Imperialism is alive and thriving. Meritocracy is quite a fallacy for the most part. And most Americans, yet alone other countries, are not given an even playing field to play on.
Seeing that there are those who cannot even relate to how the current system is affecting them, and their loved ones; i certainly cannot expect someone oblivious to current states of various domestic affairs would be capable to understand the big (global) picture.
This is just the type of book everyone should read and contemplate with an open unbiased mind and ponder how most of the people can be fooled most of the time. I keep hoping the day will come in this country when all the people can't be fooled all the time. Books and dialogue such as this are a refreshing effort. Now learning the difference between just looking at things and the effort of truly seeing things, well, that is another story!
By the way, if you doubt the tragedies of Imperialism and the mounting tragedies of exporting the type of Capitalism that thrives nowadays, just check out how the average Chinese individual is struggling with this great imported product (many articles of impoverished citizens who were doing just fine under their previously established life-style system), or Russia's poverty crushed optimism, or cross over to Mexico and see the devastation of abandoned NAFTA, or CAFTA's destructive wake, or any of the other broken promises of profiteering American efforts and policies have been implemented for the benefit and progress of the trusting (and needy) citizens of other countries. Our country's destruction is not only accomplished with jets and bombs. However, I have no doubt that we will be reading, seeing, and hearing about the wake of our wonderful efforts in Iraq for a long time as we strive to give birth to another new partner of democracy in the world. Imperialism and Capitalism is at work in full gear there. If you thought the election was hard to accomplish, wait til those poor people get a real taste of what we are selling after the war is done (if that ever happens!)!
Summary of Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
Praised by the New York Times for his ?ferocious moral vision,? Cornel West returns to the analysis of what he calls the arrested development of democracy with a masterful diagnosis. Pointing to the rise of three antidemocratic dogmas that are rendering the energy of American democracy impotent?a callous free-market fundamentalism, an aggressive militarism, and an insidious authoritarianism?West argues that racism and imperial bullying have gone hand in hand in our country?s inexorable drive toward world dominance, including our current militaristic excesses. This impassioned and empowering call for the revitalization of America?s democracy, by one of our most distinctive and compelling social critics, will reshape the raging national debate about America?s role in today?s troubled world.n Democracy Matters, Cornel West's follow-up to 1993's Race Matters, the author's diagnosis of the state of modern American democracy is grim. The institution suffers, he says, from what he calls free market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism, forces that put a stranglehold on efforts to achieve better social and political results on a global scale. These systemic problems exist simultaneous to a pervading sense of nihilism throughout the American corridors of power, West contends, making lawmakers feel that they are inherently virtuous because they are so powerful and accepting a system they know to be unjust, while the press sacrifices truth and insight in pursuit of a sentimental story. Along the way, West makes extensive use of literary and historical parallels, employing Alexis de Tocqueville, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Toni Morrison and others, with grea! t efficacy for the most part, to illustrate his points. West's prescription calls for a path toward a style of Christianity more in keeping with what he sees as true Christian ideals as well as a greater enfranchisement and understanding of young people and youth culture. West has a lot to say and the vast scope of West's arguments could be construed in at least a couple of ways: either he boldly takes on the enormity inherent to the topic of democracy, or he loses his way and attempts to touch on too wide a swath of topics while rarely going into sufficient detail on any of them. Besides being a provocative author, West is a highly respected professor and Democracy Matters reads something like a university lecture sounds: often insightful, occasionally disjointed, periodically obtuse, and sometimes brilliant. But in the ongoing effort to establish a better democracy, Professor West's perspective is highly instructive. --John Moe
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