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Democracy

Stories from the Long Road to Freedom

by Condoleezza Rice

Narrator Condoleezza Rice

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Length 12 hours 54 minutes

Language English

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Summary
About the author
About the narrator

From the former secretary of state and bestselling author--a sweeping look at the global struggle for democracy and why America must continue to support the cause of human freedom.

From the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, to the ongoing struggle for human rights in the Middle East, Condoleezza Rice has been on the front lines of history. As a child, she was an eyewitness to a third awakening of freedom, when her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, became the epicenter of the civil rights movement for black Americans.

In this book, Rice explains what these epochal events teach us about democracy. At a time when people around the world are wondering whether democracy is in decline, Rice shares insights from her experiences as a policymaker, scholar, and citizen, in order to put democracy's challenges into perspective.

For more than two centuries, popular desire for self-government has been an engine of change reshaping the international system. Today more than half of all countries qualify as democracies, and in the long run that number will continue to grow. Yet nothing worthwhile ever comes easily.

While the ideal conditions for democratization are well known, they never exist in the real world. The question is not how to create perfect circumstances but how to move forward under difficult ones. No two transitions to democracy are the same because every country starts in a different place. Pathways diverge and sometimes circle backwards. Time frames for success vary dramatically, and countries often suffer false starts before getting it right.

These same insights apply in overcoming the challenges faced by democracy today. The pursuit of democracy is an ongoing struggle shared by people around the world, whether they are opposing an authoritarian regime, establishing new democratic institutions, or reforming a mature democracy to better reflect its ideals. The work of securing it is never finished.

Biography & Memoir History Politics & Economy Nonfiction

Condoleezza Rice was the sixty-sixth US secretary of state and the first black woman to hold that office. Prior to that, she was the first woman to serve as national security adviser. She is a professor at Stanford University and cofounder of RiceHadleyGates LLC. Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington (2011), Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family (2010), Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom (2017), and Political Risk: How Businesses and Organizations Can Anticipate Global Insecurity (2018).

Audiobook details

Author:
Condoleezza Rice

Narrator:
Condoleezza Rice

ISBN:
9781478964575

Length:
12 hours 54 minutes

Language:
English

Publisher:
Hachette Audio

Publication date:
May 9, 2017

Edition:
Unabridged

Reviews

"This book is both critically important and profoundly inspiring. With democracy challenged around the world, Condoleezza Rice bears witness to its moral force. Drawing lessons from her childhood in Birmingham to her tenure as Secretary of State, she shows why both our interests and our ideals compel us to be in the forefront of the fight for democracy, however fitful it may be. Everyone should read this book. It will restore your faith in our nation's creed and remind you of the nobility of our mission in this world."—Walter Isaacson, professor of history at Tulane University and New York Times bestselling author of Steve Jobs, Einstein, and Leonardo Da Vinci "Working daily alongside Condi at the White House and State Department, I witnessed firsthand her foundational belief in the power of human freedom and the crucial need for democratic institutions to protect it. This book, full of fascinating anecdotes and insights, is a sweeping view of the global struggle for democracy and a must-read for all who care about the future peace of the world and its people."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Karen Hughes, former under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs "This heartfelt and at times very moving book shows why democracy proponents are so committed to their work...Both supporters and skeptics of democracy promotion will come away from this book wiser and better informed."—Walter Russell Mead, The New York Times "[A] ringing call for democracy promotion...Ms. Rice should be commended."—Max Boot, The Wall Street Journal "[An] accessibly written study of that imperfect but ideal form of government...[One that] deserves a broad audience, especially in our current political climate."—Kirkus Starred Review "At a time when democracy appears to be in retreat around the globe, Condoleezza Rice's DEMOCRACY: Stories From the Long Road to Freedom offers a much-needed corrective. Weaving effortlessly between academic analysis and personal experiences-from Professor Rice to Secretary of State Rice and back again-Condi draws upon a series of case studies to offer a fresh perspective to how democracies emerge, how they sometimes endure but sometimes collapse, and especially why patience is required from us in observing and participating in the democracy-building process. A fantastic read!"—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Professor Michael McFaul, director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University "Condoleezza Rice serves as an able and insightful guide in this journey through democracy across the globe. Her knowledge and clear-eyed assessment of the challenges facing this system of government make this book an important contribution to a pressing debate on democracy today."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations "Authoritative...Readers interested in the history of political systems and governments will find her work informative and easy to understand." —Library Journal Expand reviews