The Future of Liberal Democracy : Thomas Jefferson and the Contemporary World

A Distinguished Group Of International Scholars, Public Leaders And Practitioners Explore In This Volume Contemporary Issues That In Some Measure Reflect Thomas Jefferson's Ideas And Ideals. They Discuss Successes And Failures In Implementing Such Ideas As Democracy And Human Rights In Various Regions Of The World. The Volume Is The Product Of An International Conference Initiated By The International Center For Jefferson Studies At Monticello In Collaboration With Jefferson's University Of Virginia. Part I: Human Rights, Thomas Jefferson, And The Lockean Moment -- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, And The Declaration Des Droits De L'homme Et Du Citoyen / Iain Mclean -- Liberal Imperialism / Alan Ryan -- An Appeal To Heaven: The Language Of Rights On The Eve Of American Independence / T.h. Breen -- Jefferson And Jinnah: Humanist Ideals And The Mythology Of Nation-building / Akbar Ahmed -- Part Ii: Rights And The Crafting Of Constitutions -- Rights And Human Rights In The Modern World The Experience Of Working The Bill Of Rights In The Indian Constitution / Soli J. Sorabjee -- Another Springtime Of Nations? Rights In Central And Eastern Europe / A.e. Dick Howard -- Thomas Jefferson, Rights, And The Contemporary World / Yasushi Akashi -- Part Iii: Case Studies And The Implementation Of Rights And Democracy -- Citizenship And The Struggle For Rights In Fledgling Democracies / Mark Tamthai -- Human Rights Of Women In Iran / Nesta Ramazani -- Iran's Historical Battle For Democracy: An Interpretation / R.k. Ramazani -- Citizenship And Democracy In Haiti / Robert Fatton Jr. -- Part Iv: Rights, Democracy, And Power -- Lost Illusions / Stanley Hoffman -- The United States, Human Rights, And Moral Autonomy In The Post-cold War World / Brantly Womack -- Human Rights, Peace, And Power / John Owen. Edited By Robert Fatton, Jr. And R.k. Ramazani. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Contributors......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 PART I: HUMAN RIGHTS, THOMAS JEFFERSON, AND THE LOCKEAN MOMENT......Page 24 1 Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the Déclaration des Droits de L’Homme et du Citoyen......Page 26 2 Liberal Imperialism......Page 44 3 Jefferson, Rights, and the Priority of Freedom of Conscience......Page 62 4 An Appeal to Heaven: The Language of Rights on the Eve of American Independence......Page 78 5 Jefferson and Jinnah: Humanist Ideals and the Mythology of Nation-Building......Page 98 PART II: RIGHTS AND THE CRAFTING OF CONSTITUTIONS......Page 112 6 Need for a Credible Mechanism to Secure Accountability......Page 114 7 Rights and Human Rights in the Modern World: The Experience of Working the Bill of Rights in the Indian Constitution......Page 128 8 Another “Springtime of Nations”? Rights in Central and Eastern Europe......Page 136 PART III: CASE STUDIES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY......Page 164 9 Thomas Jefferson, Rights, and the Contemporary World......Page 166 10 Citizenship and the Struggle for Rights in Fledgling Democracies......Page 170 11 Human Rights of Women in Iran......Page 182 12 Iran, Democracy, and the United States......Page 198 13 Citizenship and Democratization in Haiti......Page 216 14 Participation, Democracy, and Human Rights: An Approach Based on the Dilemmas Facing Latin America......Page 238 PART IV: RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, AND POWER......Page 258 15 Lost Illusions......Page 260 16 The United States, Human Rights, and Moral Autonomy in the Post–Cold War World......Page 268 17 Human Rights, Peace, and Power......Page 284 C......Page 296 F......Page 297 I......Page 298 M......Page 299 S......Page 300 Y......Page 301 Top scholars and practitioners from a variety of ideological perspectives consider liberal democracy and the Jeffersonian legacy, both in relation to key issues in the practice and theory of rights (human rights, individual rights) and in relation to key themes in political thought such as citizenship and participation that remain at the forefront of our debates about public life today. The first section of this collection provides historical and theoretical perspectives on Jefferson's ideals and thought. The second section explores the key themes of sovereignty, citizenship, participation, and accountability. A concluding section analyzes the relevance and place of Jefferson's legacy and the fate of liberal democracy in today's world. Contributors offer varying perspectives on questions such as: Is what is good for America good for the rest of the world? What are the constraints that exist on the global spread of democracy, liberal or otherwise?

Does Thomas Jefferson have a future in today's world? Editors Fatton and Ramazani (both politics, U. of Virginia), and their distinguished contributors offer a wide variety of opinions on whether liberal democracy will thrive, or for that matter survive as an international force given recent events. Rather than starting from today's problems, they sensibly approach the issues from the beginning, with the Lockean movement and basic human rights from the eighteenth century onward. From there they examine how constitutions are born and how they function, and give case studies from Iran, the US, and Haiti. It is then that they turn to the issue of whether liberal democracy can survive under its own power, and will continue to function in the achievement of human rights. It appears from their commentary that Jefferson may or may not be amused by the present situation. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Thomas Jefferson lives, as John Adams said on July 4, 1826, a few hours after Thomas Jefferson died and a few hours before John Adams died.