Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism

Comments

1. Guest

   June 5, 2015 at 12:00 am

   The book and the service were fine.

2. Guest

   January 3, 2015 at 12:00 am

   Knowledge is power!

3. Guest

   November 27, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Cornel West is an astute thinker and has many valuable things to say, as he does in \\”Democracy Matters\\” and while I enjoyed the book it was a challenge to put aside his Christianity, which, for me is a strange conundrum- a clear thinker unable to detach reality from fantasy.

4. Guest

   September 25, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Cornel West is amazing. This book helped me realize some things about politics and how America runs as a whole! I’m looking forward to reading more of Dr. West’s commentary.

5. Guest

   January 18, 2014 at 12:00 am

   While I am in many ways impressed with the writings of Cornel West, I do not believe that he pushes the envelope in any significant way. It is difficult for me to conceive of how an agent of imperialism can postulate anything that comes close to a critique of it. It is an alright read, nothing great.

6. Guest

   January 1, 2014 at 12:00 am

   Absolute stunner!!!! Great use of info, quotes, and love….a tough love that Americans have become to coddled to accept these days but needs to be said nonetheless

7. Guest

   November 6, 2013 at 12:00 am

   I love Cornel West’s perspective in this book. His writing is quite complex but interesting at the same time. His writing forces the reader to become a critical thinker. My class was reading his book and we had a full two hour long session just on two chapters. It’s quite intense but you’ll learn a lot.

8. Guest

   August 24, 2013 at 12:00 am

   great book, lots of C.W. thought, and a lot of truth. would share with others, looking for insight.
   C.W. has done I think a lot of work and personal dedication towards educating the people who would be interested in learning about history from his perspective. It might at first, as it was with me to be a little polarized, but I kept an open mind and continued to read. I found him speaking a language that concerned all people from many walks of life, and his persistently calling for with compelling attention of characteristic vales for them seemed to be one of indisputable concern. It was, as with mine, a calling for unquestionable change in which our entire civilization needs to hear, if only for the few and wake up to the everlasting cry from all peoples.
   We are all in the same boat of life on this God given planet, sailing on the same sea, may we as a civilization not Blow-It.

   Thanks Sully

9. Guest

   March 9, 2013 at 12:00 am

   I loved Dr. West’s "Race Matters," so I’m going to consider that the standard by which I’ll judge this book "Democracy Matters." I didn’t appreciate this book because Dr. West isn’t writing from the heart. It’s all name-dropping, quotations, and references, which I’m not interested in. He’s trying to make himself sound smart and knowledgeable, when none of that is necessary. Just tell it like it is, Dr. West. Tell us about your life.

   When West gets angry in this book, it’s gets funny, and he gets his point across. The part where he spars with his boss Lawrence Summers is great; it’s a first hand example of Democracy in action. You get the academic head who wants to be the new sheriff in town, the professor who’s been promised creative control (among other things,) and the unscrupulous reporters who’re hungry for news. When accused of writing books that are commercial and not academic enough, West responds "none of my books have ever been reviewed in The New York Review of Books, but there’s always hope."

   Too much space is devoted to the Israel-Palestine conflict, but it gets old fast. West has hardly spent time there with either side. I wonder what would happen if he visited the refugee camps or Israeli settlements? Or any of the other "oppressed people" he tries to champion.

   I saw Dr. West speak at a NY high school, and sad to say I was completely uninspired. He droned on and on with his cockamamie word play, not a single word of useable advice. He was supposed to be there in support of a school that was being forced to close, but wasn’t much of a help. I feel more inspired when I listen to Henry Kissinger. But I wouldn’t say that then and there, because it was an auditorium full of angry black kids, angry black single mothers, and angry black school employees who hate their jobs. West was just telling them what they wanted to hear.

   Dr. West’s books have gotten worse and worse as he developed a greater and greater sense of his own self-worth.ed a greater and greater sense of his own self-worth.

10. Guest

    November 8, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Dr.West has a brilliant mind.I wish I had read this book in college. Anyone who read this book will have a better understanding of todays world problems.

11. Guest

    January 1, 2010 at 12:00 am

    Dr. West, once again, wants you to think critically about the societal ills of today and how we, as a populace, can arm ourselves with the necessary knowledge to rectify the situation. In Democracy Matters, he describes three prevailing trends in today’s world that threaten democracy: free market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism. Upon further reading, you will be hard-put in countering his rational for these trends.

    Dr. West contends that the \\”..insidious growth…\\” of nihilism has been \\”… suffocating the democratic energies of America\\” and offers three compelling antidotes to restore that deep democratic energy: Socratic questioning, Prophetic witness and Tragicomic hope. You will find these themes run throughout the text including chapters on Christian identity in America and engaging America’s youth.

    Dr. West suggests that in the tradition of Emerson, Baldwin, Melville and Morrison, visionaries who possessed democratic acuity, we re-energize ourselves, move collectively against the antidemocratic dogmas, question motives of the corporate elite, and not acquiescence in the face of the status quo.

    I believe Democracy Matters is worthy of at least four stars despite the fact that, in the chapter regarding the engagement of America’s youth, Dr West digresses by reviewing the ordeal that transpired between himself and Harvard president, Larry Summers. All in all, Dr. West’s discourse on democracy is relevant, insightful and thought-provoking.

12. Guest

    July 8, 2009 at 12:00 am

    (Review begins in 3rd paragraph.) I’m adding this brief introduction after people started marking my review as unhelpful. Let me say up front: I realize some will no doubt suspect some racism on my part, which would be quite understandable, given today’s polemic climate and because this is a negative review. I can assure you that’s not the case with me at all. (I’m white, my spouse is African American; I’m a world traveler on 6 continents including trips to Africa 7 weeks at a time, and hands-on humanitarian work in tribal Ethiopia & Peru; I have a personal website that includes my writings on Selma and other civil rights topics. I even managed a blues band that performed at Kingston Mines–so I even have a little something in common with West! I shouldn’t have to preface my review with words about who I am, in order not to be dismissed out-of-hand, but sadly many will assume the worst about the messenger before thoughtfully considering the criticism.) I simply consider this book not to be the best choice for readers whose time is limited. Recently Cornel West was on a panel discussing Obama so far. I mentioned to an African-American friend that I was quite impressed with West’s remarks, after having such an unpleasant encounter with his book. My friend replied, \\”Oh, Cornel West is great when he’s speaking, but I never read his books, they’re horrible!\\” My African-American friend had already discovered what I just did–West doesn’t use all those big words and showy phrases when he just talks. Here’s my review: I mean really now… you could be a piano tuner, and your nihilistic handling of the tuning fork would prove you’re an imperialist elite, if West doesn’t like you! There are too many other good books about politics, race and current events to bother with this meandering collection of big words and impressive phrases. He’s clearly not writing for \\”the people,\\” so then for whom? Fellow academics? I don’t think they’d be impressed. Maybe he just wantsthe average Joe to imagine the big words make sense to those in the know, and therefore he garners a sort of cheap respect–without having communicated. I got so weary of his constant use (and I’m not exaggerating) of the terms nihilist, elite, imperial…. Like a child wearing out a new toy after Christmas, he uses these terms countless times, to the point of embarrassment. And he never defines them. But they are routine adjectives for every thing or person he mentions negatively. I listened to the audio version of this book, and often wondered, What is he saying? Plenty of words and phrases, but what’s his point? What is he saying about \\”democracy\\” exactly? I concluded he simply wanted to write a book, and \\”democracy\\” sounded like a popular, unassailable peg on which to hang all kinds of unrelated ramblings–such as his embarrassingly over-the-top iconization of Toni Morrison (she’s great, but she really is still human!) and others, curiously always black personas, and a defense of his interest in jazz and the blues. Yes, all of that stuff is all about democracy. Then there was the self-serving section where he listed all his personal achievements, followed by the long discussion of his run-in with the president of Harvard (quite inappropriate for this book), followed by a closing sermon. Yes, a real sermon, and I must say I was quite turned off by his insistence, basically, that religion be brought into the public discourse–more erosion of the separation of church and state. There’s just too much other good stuff out there to bother wading through this pedantic mishmash and, frankly, apparent grandstanding. I did appreciate a couple of things… I liked his inclusivity (gays, for example), and I liked his definition of political correctness, \\”a term coined by those who tend to trivialize the scars of others and minimize the suffering of victims while highlighting their own wounds.\\” If West could have been as straightforward and simple-languagedthroughout the book, then it may have warranted more stars. I agree with West about the many things that make our country less than what it should be and could be. But when thoughtfully written out and put in a book, complaints should be organized, stated clearly and be followed by suggestions. I am never impressed by editorials or books that spend more time citing the problems than addressing their resolution or offering some basis for hope. Frankly, I think if an unknown name had been attached to the manuscript, this book would never have been published.

13. Guest

    December 11, 2008 at 12:00 am

    I just read Dr. Wests book and it is an amazing insight on the factors that are shaping democracy in America and the world. Its like shining a flashlight in the dark. It shines light on the ways to strengthen our democracy, and further our democracy. West has an ability to recognize \\”GroupThink\\” and avoid it. The book has lots of historical references along the way, and explains a lot about the societal minefield that we must navigate in order to progress American democracy and democracy abroad. The level of truth shown is amazing, and it clears the smoke screen of media rhetoric, while at the same time providing a historical map leading to our current state of affairs.

14. Guest

    September 13, 2008 at 12:00 am

    I unfortunately had a pretty liberal Poli Sci professor who decided that Cornel West’s Venomous Screed was worthy of an academic setting. However I found that it was not academic at all. Academics is all about stating a hypothesis, providing evidence and reasoned argument for your hypothesis and tying it up at the end for a conclusion.

    Instead Cornel West merely asserts his opinions such as ‘Capitalism causes nihilism in the african american community’. Just because you assert something or even feel something does not make it true. I wonder if West realizes that the same evil capitalism provided him with a means to cure his prostate cancer via amazing procedures and the miracle of medicine. If it weren’t for capitalism he would suffer the greatest nihilism…annihilation.

    But this is more of a personal attack which is not academic. But since his book was not academic and merely asserted inane garbage, I guess that justifies my response.

    If you agree with the man and don’t want to belabor either his or your opinions with facts and rational argument, this is indeed a five star book.

15. Guest

    September 15, 2007 at 12:00 am

    I’ll be honest, I’ve never been able to understand the level of academic success Cornel West has been able to achieve over the years. I read \\”Race Matters\\” as a senior in high school and found it to be a somewhat half-hearted and ultimately trite examination of what at times can be a very serious problem in our country – racial relations. Having had seven years of education since reading \\”Race Matters\\” I feel even more comfortable denouncing West as something of an intellectual hack. My criticism of West is not a mere \\”polemic against the left,\\” as some reviewers have claimed. I am a liberal, but I can honestly say I have never met an (in my opinion) intelligent liberal who has thought Cornel West has contributed anything truly worthwhile to the racial dialogue. This is not to say if you liked his book you are an idiot. But I’ve always been concerned that West’s writing resonates with the same demographic of liberalism that, for example, considers Al Sharpton to be a meaningful black leader. West’s writing to me always displays the worst of academia: using big words to paint broad concepts but never truly drawing any actual conclusions. In a book called \\”Democracy Matters,\\” West never takes the time to explain or define what he really means by \\”democracy.\\” Is it free speech and open dialogue? Elected government? Personal involvement in the political process? All of these? Without a more specific explanation, I had a difficult time understanding what precisely it was about democracy that mattered, since democracy is, after all, a complex concept with multiple variations and meanings. In the end I felt like I’d just read through 200-pages of a George Bush speech, which is to say: democracy = good. Reading the book I was also struck by the extent to which Cornel West is essentially a racist – or \\”Afro-centrist,\\” if you prefer the more patronizing term. I do not exaggerate when I say every other paragraph had a reference to either the hegemony imposed by white males over various demographics of American society or the manner in which black-specific contributions to American culture (ie, jazz or Toni Morrison) are the true reflection of democracy. I believe both that white men have exercised an oppressive dominance over American society and that black culture has offered much to the American experience, but neither to the extent West does. A good but benign example is when West refers to Tavis Smiley as the political voice of my generation. I respect Tavis Smiley very much, but it is pretty well accepted that it is in fact Jon Stewart, a mere white man, who is the political voice of my generation. In the end I found this overpromotion of black America off-putting and self-serving, distracting from what should otherwise have been an examination of the importance of \\”democracy\\” (however you define it to be). I also found it to be incredibly self-serving on the part of West to dedicate a significant portion of one chapter – and I kid you not – to essentially gripe about how Lawrence Summers was mean to him at Harvard. Their famous exchange may have deserved an off-handed mention in a paragraph, possibly two, particularly to illuminate West’s point about opening a racial dialogue in America through all mediums accessible (rap CDs, you see, are one such medium, while scholarly journals are not). But to dedicate page after page to the incident not only distracted from the true focus of the book, but also came off as childish. I can guess by the low ratings that negative reviews have garnered on Amazon that this review will not be received favorably. I hope people will understand that this is intended to be an honest examination of the book and not an opportunity to put down Professor West. Despite having little respect for his intellectual acumen, I purchased and approached this book with my best effort at an open mind, hoping to be convinced that West’s supposed brilliance would in fact be merited. But in the end I walked away with the conviction that my friends’ appraisal of West is in fact the correct one, and that he is riding off the (undeserved) goodwill of liberal America, rather than any sort of meaningful continued contribution to the racial dialogue.

16. Guest

    April 27, 2007 at 12:00 am

    This book is a brilliantly written analysis of racism and democracy in America. My one complaint, and the reason I didn’t add that fifth star, is that West incorporates his personal tastes- his love of jazz and the blues, and his fondness for the writings of Toni Morrison- as integral to an understanding of democracy.
    As someone who hates jazz and who thought Morrison’s Beloved was overwritten and preachy, I find it hard to believe that I have turned my back on two forms of art which promote democracy. Literature and music are what they are…I’m glad West gets such pleasure from these art forms, but I would have preferred more history and less promotion of them. When West sticks to historical fact, and his analysis of it, he is unsurpassed.

17. Guest

    April 4, 2007 at 12:00 am

    I just finished reading Democracy Matters by Dr. Cornel West. I actually got the opportunity to meet Dr. Wset and have him personally sign my book while he was on tour with Tavis Smiley promoting the Covenant in Action book.

    As for the book, itself, it really helps deine what democracy is and how we as a nation have not yet reached the point of democracy. As Dr. West puts it we are nihilistic meaning that we are people of being or existence. This is a true statement; he also goes on to say how are judegemental of others. If we are truly a nation that deals with democracy then we would treat our people with respect, etc. Read the book, I think overall anyone who enjoys history, or a decent philosophical read but WITHOUT the use of BIG words then this is a book for you.

18. Guest

    February 26, 2007 at 12:00 am

    In essence, Cornel West appeals to the democratic traditions of the USA as part of effort to inspire resistance to the antidemocratic forces raging within the body of the Republic. For him the question is whether we yield to the authoritarian forces begotten of plutocracy, racism and imperialism, or whether we can \\”revitalize our democratic fires\\” to insure that the nation can enjoy a new birth of freedom, equality and justice.
    Frankly, I think he ought to have focused more criticisms on the limitations of our \\”deep democratic tradtiions\\” especially in light of his own observations that \\”the enslavement of Africans and imperial expansion over indigenous people and their lands were undeniable preconditions for the possibility of American democracy.\\”
    Far from being \\”too left\\” of center, I felt that perhaps he didn’t go far enough. His analysis might have gone further in exposing the hard core of plutocracy within the form of the Republic. Just how democratic is \\”our democracy\\”? Must we not rethink the very meaning of democracy. A think that a deeper and more radical idea and practice of democracy is needed than his analysis. And I think that this need is implied by his analysis without being clearly stated.
    Unfortunately, I cannot explain all this here. But I have a more thoroughgoing review (which West personally thanked me for despite my criticisms) which I can share with anyone who’s interested.
    West deeply cherished out democratic values, and the tradition of creative dissent without which we would be a lot poorer, and a far more repressive society. He sees himself in the tradition of Emerson even though (as a social critic) I would view him more in line Melville. (Emerson and Melville being for him the twin cultural founders of America’s democratic traditions).
    Though West sometimes speaks too uncritically of \\”our democracy\\”, he does not simplistically equate the American status quo with the essence of democracy. Very importantly, he understands that democracy is \\”more a verb than a noun\\” and \\”is more a dynamic striving and collective movement than a static order or stationary status quo.\\” It is a \\”cultural way of being.\\” In short, democracy is praxis–and a communal achievement rather than the idiocy of privatized life.

    As for those who think West is too \\”leftist,\\” I can assure you that today is basically a \\”moderate\\” leftist. I’ve known him for over twnety years, and I assure you he is FAR more moderate than myself.

    Now, I would like to commend Bryan Bugham and Ted Steele for trying to wrestle with Democracy Matters with a bit of intellectual honesty and interest. That’s a refreshing turn from much of the uncritical praise or unthinking rejection and condemnation from some commentators here.
    For the authors of the reviews entitled \\”Democracy Matters, this book does not\\” and \\”Walking Contradiction\\”, I would like to point out that simple dismissal hardly counts as rebuttal. It is somewhat juvenile to dismiss a philosopher’s ideas with a silly quote from mentally light weight politician. And ad Hominem references to an author’s address or income hardly are irrelevant if not also dishonest.
    In fact, such \\”criticisms\\” are examples of the impoverishing of national discourse and dialogue which West rightly sees as a threat to the future of democracy. At least take time to read and study the book you wish to review.

19. Guest

    January 23, 2007 at 12:00 am

    This is a great book for anybody who had dellusions about our country. It will open your eyes.

20. Guest

    December 11, 2006 at 12:00 am

    If you love America, then avoid this book. It would seem that yet again we have a book written by a very educated man who fits the quote by Ronald Regan. \\”Liberals are not stupid; they just know so much that isn’t so.\\”

    It would seem that this man sat down to write a book about something that he has no idea about. When he starts with some wild ideas about how the world works and along the way gives no evidence to back up his warped ideas.

    I do have one nice thing to say about this book. The typesetting was done very well. Unfortunately this is the high point of the book.

21. Guest

    August 13, 2006 at 12:00 am

    The book was incredible, it tackled alot of political issues that we as americans are facing in this post 9/11 era. It isnt a typical book that just gives you the basic fluff that you read from your everyday journalist, this book gives you an immaculate conception of socratic thinking and using these ideas to bring what not only what this country needs, but also the world, and that is prosperity. Excellent read!!!!

22. Guest

    January 11, 2006 at 12:00 am

    I enjoy a book which addresses topics in a way that makes one think and relish the possibilities, rather than be spoon fed words and concepts that I feel absolutely certain or comfortable about. I found this book a very interesting and stimulating read. I miss an associate of mine with whom I could agree to disagree or at least we enjoyed playing devil’s advocate for each other. That is where cognitive and real-world experiences are prone to re-evaluation and potential growth either through change or confirmation.

    Reading some of these reviews is scarier than some of the REAL concerns about our country and lack of wisdom in our leaders and the real power controllers of policy and progress, and i use progress in an optimistic way here. IF this is a sampling of how individuals respond to new or disagreeable discussions, then we are missing the power of discourse that promotes growth and solutions by collaborative discussions of other considerations, options, observations, or, even revealing, misunderstandings.

    Being aware that our country is rapidly spinning out of control and off the very foundation of democratic freedoms and solutions to both our and the world problems, it is easy to see how difficult it is to address these matters when the falsehoods and fallacies of the current state of our affairs is so ignored and/or denied. Has there really been progress for all to share and rise up to their full potential with hopes of also raising the bar on US standards, yet alone raising the bar for living standards worldwide.

    Imperialism is alive and thriving. Meritocracy is quite a fallacy for the most part. And most Americans, yet alone other countries, are not given an even playing field to play on.

    Seeing that there are those who cannot even relate to how the current system is affecting them, and their loved ones; i certainly cannot expect someone oblivious to current states of various domestic affairs wouldbe capable to understand the big (global) picture.

    This is just the type of book everyone should read and contemplate with an open unbiased mind and ponder how most of the people can be fooled most of the time. I keep hoping the day will come in this country when all the people can’t be fooled all the time. Books and dialogue such as this are a refreshing effort. Now learning the difference between just looking at things and the effort of truly seeing things, well, that is another story!

    By the way, if you doubt the tragedies of Imperialism and the mounting tragedies of exporting the type of Capitalism that thrives nowadays, just check out how the average Chinese individual is struggling with this great imported product (many articles of impoverished citizens who were doing just fine under their previously established life-style system), or Russia’s poverty crushed optimism, or cross over to Mexico and see the devastation of abandoned NAFTA, or CAFTA’s destructive wake, or any of the other broken promises of profiteering American efforts and policies have been implemented for the benefit and progress of the trusting (and needy) citizens of other countries. Our country’s destruction is not only accomplished with jets and bombs. However, I have no doubt that we will be reading, seeing, and hearing about the wake of our wonderful efforts in Iraq for a long time as we strive to give birth to another new partner of democracy in the world. Imperialism and Capitalism is at work in full gear there. If you thought the election was hard to accomplish, wait til those poor people get a real taste of what we are selling after the war is done (if that ever happens!)!