DEMOCRACY AND THE THIRD WORLD: GOVERNANCE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The difference between the ancient Greek polis and the modern democracies of Western Europe and America is immense. Constitutional and representative government with official neutrality with respect to belief required a long historical development from the ancient polis through feudalism. Can this form of governance take root in Asia, accustomed to rule by despotism, or the tribal societies of Africa? Although this may be a modern objective, Kedourie argues that there will be little chance of success.