Can Democracy Survive in Western Europe?

A historian and a former diplomat analyze the prospects for democracy's continued survival and health in Western Europe. As democracy is the most rapidly spreading form of government in the world today--from Eastern Europe to Asia to Africa and South America--it makes sense to examine its home base in Western Europe. The authors find that democracy there has very real problems, and they assess its future prospects in light of those problems. Their method is to analyze examples of democracy in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, looking at the long history of these countries and their cultural values as keys to understanding the future of this form of government. The study concludes with specific recommendations for governments on both sides of the Atlantic. An important work that will be of interest to scholars, students, and policy-makers in comparative politics and international relations.