First published 1998
George Will surveys the global triumph and domestic struggles of American democratic ideals from 1986 to 1990. This collection opens with the worldwide spread of democratic principles, as Will analyzes pivotal moments in Berlin, across Eastern Europe, within China, and throughout the Soviet Union. He documents how American concepts of freedom and self-governance took root in unexpected places during this transformative period. The focus then shifts to democracy's challenges on home soil. Will scrutinizes presidential missteps and political fumbling that threatened the very ideals America championed abroad. He expresses deep concern about the nation's ability to maintain its democratic foundation while promoting it internationally. The book captures the tension between America's external success in spreading democratic values and its internal struggle to uphold them.
Genres: history, 20th-century, american, political-science, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-non-fiction
Setting: America, Berlin, China, Eastern Europe, Soviet Union
Period: 1986-1990
432 pages · Paperback · Free Press