Breaking the Real Axis of Evil: How to Oust the World's Last Dictators by 2025 - Hardcover

Palmer, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0742532542 ISBN 13: 9780742532540

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2003

Synopsis

In Breaking the Real Axis of Evil, ambassador Mark Palmer has the gumption to argue what diplomats and political leaders dare not speak: that global peace will not be achieved until democracies replace the world's remaining dictatorships. We know that these dictators are at the root of terrorism and war. Under their stony gaze, millions have gone to their deaths, a great tidal wave of refugees has swept across the planet, and nations have been driven into poverty, famine, and despair. Drawing on over 25 years of extensive diplomatic experience, Ambassador Palmer asks us to embrace a bold vision of a world made safe by democracy. This is the story of the last 46 dictators, the strategy and tactics to oust them, and the need to empower the people of every nation to control their own destinies.

About this title

About the Author:

Mark Palmer, described by the New York Times as "the most active Western booster for economic and political liberalization," has an extensive record of government service, including four years as ambassador to Hungary, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Soviet Relations, and speech writer for three presidents and six secretaries of state, including chief speech writer for Henry Kissinger. One of the first venture capitalists into central and eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he has founded independent national television stations in six countries. Ambassador Palmer is active in promoting democracy, including as Vice Chairman of Freedom House, America's oldest human rights organization. He resides in Washington, DC.

Review:

Ambassador Palmer is 'Mr. Human Rights.' This can be the Age of Democracy if we heed the lessons of his book. (Max Kampelman, foreign policy advisor to three U. S. Presidents)

Open societies provide only the basis for a more peaceful, prosperous world. Mark Palmer is at the cutting edge of change in the right direction. (George Soros, investor and philanthropist)

Mark Palmer's vision of a 100% democratic world is bold and important. I urge anyone interested in supporting the struggle of Chinese, Arab, African, and Cuban democrats to read this book! (Bill Richardson, former Secretary of Energy, ambassador to the United Nations, congressman, and now Governor of New Mexico)

During and after the three world wars (two hot, one cold) of the twentieth century we and our allies have freed much of the world. Mark Palmer shows us how to finish the job. Bravo. (R. James Woolsey, former Director of the CIA; Chairman, Woolsey Partners LLC)

I watched Ambassador Palmer in action in Budapest as he helped galvanize and even march with Hungarian democrats. I recommend his book to my colleagues in the Congress and in democratic parliaments around the world. (Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader and highest ranking woman in the history of the U. S. Congress)

Ambassador Mark Palmer's democracy manifesto is a radical blueprint for democratic change everywhere dictators oppress their people, and an impassioned call for a foreign policy true to America's founding principles. (Senator John McCain)

Mark Palmer's prescription for the "End of Dicatatorships" is a fundamental contribution to the debate about the world's future. He has extensively researched what works in dumping dictators peacefully, looked at each of the remaining rogue regimes and developed a new foreign policy paradigm. (Professor Francis Fukuyama, Johns Hopkins University, author of "The End of History and the Last Man.")

The only problem with President Bush's axis of evil label is that it doesn't extend far enough, argues Palmer, in this primer to promoting democracy around the world. Palmer, the U.S. ambassador to Hungary when communism collapsed more than a decade ago, builds on his experience there to provide a list of what government, diplomats, non-governmental organizations and the media can do to unseat dictators. (Publishers Weekly)

This work offers a welcome alternative to some of the mailed-fist policies of today. (Library Journal)

One of the best but least noticed books among all tomes addressing the quest for peace in the post-September 11 era. . . . An invaluable foreign policy guide. (The Wall Street Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0742532542
• ISBN 13: 9780742532540
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320