This fine collection of European and American scholars has a particular relevance against the background of the democratization movements in the Arab Middle East (the so-called Arab Spring). In spite of the stereotypes in the IR literature, according to which Americans are from Mars, and Europeans from Venus the authors in this book argue convincingly that Europe and America share a high degree of normative consensus and convergence, both in strategies and in their goals, regarding the promotion of democracy in several regions of the Third World and the post-Soviet sphere. - Arie M. Kacowicz, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
The Arab Spring reminds us once again how important processes of democratization (successful and unsuccessful) actually are for comparative politics and international relations theory. In this fine collection, some of the world's leading experts on the subject shed new light on the international dimensions of democratization. This book represents the only systematic comparative analysis of American and EU efforts to encourage the development of democracy and the rule of law in regions of the world still lacking them - including North Africa and the Middle East. As such it is indispensable reading for students, scholars, and practitioners alike. - Leonardo Morlino, President, International Political Science Association