Re: imposing democracy

For an interesting critique of Clifford Geertz, see William Roseberry's
essay, "Balinese Cockfights and the Seduction of Anthropology" in his
_Anthropologies and Histories_ (1991).

> -----Original Message-----
> From: wsn-owner@csf.colorado.edu 
> [mailto:wsn-owner@csf.colorado.edu] On Behalf Of francesco ranci
> Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 5:01 AM
> To: wsn@csf.colorado.edu
> Subject: imposing democracy
> 
> 
> Democracy was not an invention of the Ancient Greeks
> as sometimes people think. I always existed in
> different forms, in many tribal and other societies.
> I think anthropologists have shown that (for example
> Clifford Geertz on Village Councils in Bali).
> Cromwell defeated the levellers before the royalists
> in 1649 or so, and the French Revolution brought to a 
> dictatorship that tried to impose "civil rights" with wars. I 
> think we should really question whether that's the best way 
> or not. I do not think so. We should keep the problem of 
> military self-defence and the wish to extend democratic 
> values apart from each other. The best way to foster a 
> democratic attitude, I think, is by giving a convincing 
> example of how it works.
> 
> Best, Francesco Ranci
> 
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