Commentary
Thomas Carothers, McKenzie Carrier
REQUIRED IMAGE
Paper
Clinton Record on Democracy Promotion
Published on Sep 12, 2000
Source: Carnegie
Summary
For eight years, President Clinton and his aides have proclaimed democracy to be the organizing principle of US foreign policy, a principle representing the fusion of American ideals and interests. In this working paper, Thomas Carothers critically examines the actual role of democracy promotion in Clinton policies around the world. Carothers explores the frequent tensions, between democracy promotion and myriad other national interests-from the pursuit of trade to the combating of international drug trafficking- and, hence, the ultimately uneven record of the Clinton administration. Carothers analyzes the evolution of the Clinton administration's treatment of the issue over time, and gives attention to the role of Congress as well. Looking ahead to the role democracy promotion may play in the next administration, Carothers urges that democracy promotion not be cast aside as an outdated Clintonian custom and he sets out some practical recommendations for improving U.S. efforts.
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About the Author
Thomas Carothers
Harvey V. Fineberg Chair for Democracy Studies; Director, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Thomas Carothers, director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, is a leading expert on comparative democratization and international support for democracy.
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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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