Issue 23.1
The Myth of “Torture Lite”
Although the term “torture lite” is frequently used to distinguish between physically mutilating torture and certain interrogation methods that are supposedly less severe, the distinction is not recognized in international law.
Populism and Democracy in Latin America
The populism that is sweeping Latin America seeks, like democracy, to enact the sovereign rule of the people. Nevertheless, democrats and populists diverge over how to establish a just and enduring political order.
For a Federation of Democracies (Response to Stephen Schlesinger)
Davenport argues for a federation of democracies to replace the United Nations Security Council. This new level of government, he says, is necessary to achieve the international cooperation needed to manage a global economy and address global problems.
Democracies, Human Rights, and Collective Action
A caucus of democracies and liberal states within the UN could aim to crosscut the UN’s deeply entrenched hegemonic voting patterns and support and celebrate the purposes and claims of democracy.
The Dangers of Democratic Delusions
A “League of Democracies,” according to Mahbubani, will divide the world at the very time that a new global consensus needs to be created to address pressing global challenges.
Why a League of Democracies Will Not Work [Full Text]
The proposal for a league of democracies is fraught with a number of fundamental flaws. In fact, much of what these democracy strategists are seeking can be obtained within the existing universal security institution, the UN.
The Case for a Concert of Democracies
Over a whole range of challenges, the world is essentially undergoverned. New institutions are needed that recognize how much the world has changed and that mobilize those states most capable of meeting the dangers we confront.
Roundtable Introduction: Can Democracies Go It Alone? [Full Text]
The idea that democratic states should establish exclusive venues for international cooperation provides an opportunity for reflection on the global role of the U.S. and other liberal democracies, and on the future of multilateralism and the UN system. With James M. Lindsay, Stephen Schlesinger, Kishore Mahbubani, and Ruth Wedgwood.
