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Spreading Peace and Democracy

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
DOI10.1177/002070201206700112
Date01 March 2012
Published date01 March 2012
Subject MatterThe Lessons of History
| International Journal | Winter 2011-12 | 169 |
Metta Spencer
Spreading peace and
democracy
The Russian case
The diff‌icult Soviet transition from totalitarianism began a generation ago.
Although some aspects of it are incomplete, there are lessons to be learned
from Russia’s experience. We in liberal democracies especially need to
examine Russia’s recent history when deciding how best to support others
who are trying to liberate themselves.
Between 1982-2011, I carried out hundreds of interviews with
intellectuals, scientists, peace workers, and politicians who were working
to end the Cold War as research for a book, The Russian Quest for Peace and
Democracy.1 Those conversations dealt with an issue that is still current
in North America—whether, or how, to assist pro-democracy movements
abroad.
SHOULD WE PROMOTE THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF AUTHORITARIAN STATES?
Historically, the promotion of democracy and human rights in other
countries was a liberal project. After World War II, western democracies
Metta Spencer is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Toronto.
1 Metta Spencer, The Russian Quest for Peace and Democracy (Lanham, Maryland:
Lexington, 2010). See also additional photos and transcripts of about 200 interviews
on the book’s website, http://russianpeaceanddemocracy.com.
THE LESSONS OF HISTORY

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