Edited by Anthony J. Langlois and Karol Edward Soltan, Global Democracy and its Difficulties is a useful companion piece to Larry Diamond and Marc Plattner's Democracy: A Reader. The book examines the challenges that exist for those seeking to extend democracy at a global level. In doing so, it embraces a wide variety of issues including: philosophical and theoretical questions about the nature of democracy and the justification of its values; the role of elections in democracy promotion; the role of international laws and judicial networks; and the challenges democratization brings to the ways in which systems have been traditionally organized.

The editors begin by asserting that democracy is securely in place in global politics. However, they suggest this should not be confused with notions that the global population is universally moving towards democratic rule. There exist, they argue, many obstacles that could prevent the spread of global democracy, which can be defined broadly as ideological, practical and intellectual. There is even the basic problem of what it means to move towards 'global democracy'. But, they note, such is the appeal of democracy that even regimes that have are not democratic adopt the language and trappings of democracy.

The contributors to the book explore the many difficulties that have arisen, and might arise in the future, in spreading democracy. This includes: institution building; effecting cultural change; education; and sustaining the impetus for reform in conditions that might be adverse to democracy.

Karol Edward Soltan begins by arguing that for global democracy to be attractive and sustainable it must embrace 'moderation' (p. 17), which he defines as having three key elements: a form of moral pluralism; overcoming the power of human destructiveness; and a commitment to reasons. Though intellectually stimulating, this reviewer questions whether it is a realistic prospect, the emphasis being on realism and not the almost idealistic nature of Soltan's arguments.

Paul Dragos Aligica queries the viability of the 'democracy of nations' idea which has tended to dominate international relations thinking on democratization, the implication of which is institutionalization. He suggests that there may be new developing forms of political community in which democratic principles could be institutionalized in an evolving international arena.

Michael Goodhart considers the ways in which globalization provides opportunities for reconceptualizing the practise of democracy. His critique is that for too long theorists have examined democracy and democratization through the normative context structure of the modern sovereign state, i.e. that ideas of democracy are shaped by concepts of sovereignty. He suggests that the time has come to move on from this approach to concentrate on the norms involved with democracy, such as freedom and equality. Indeed, for Goodhart, the promotion, and protection, of human rights are fundamentally important within a democratic framework. For him, a global human rights regime is essential to promote democracy, supported by a substantial judicial and legal framework.

Further chapters include David K. Moore considering global economic openness and its relation to democratic decision making and fairness. Jens Meierhenrich examines the development of judicial networks, considering whether 'a brave new judicial world' is developing (p. 92). Ken Kersch offers an interesting chapter on the 'new globalism' of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Ellen Lust-Oskar considers the very topical question of the prospects for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. She suggests that elections in authoritarian regimes in these regions are often ineffective in promoting democracy, tending to support the existing regime as they are dogged by patronage, and questions the role of international aid and influence.

The book concludes with a debate between Carol C. Gould and Anthony J. Langlois which examines the way in which democratic norms and values should be theorized. Where Langlois argues that democracy and human rights depend on a string concept of liberal autonomy for their justification, Gould suggests that a new type of universality is required, which moves beyond an alleged bias towards the West and traditional liberal theory. It is a fascinating debate, and one that does not pull its punches!

This is a stimulating collection and will be of value for academics and students interested in democratization, political theory, political economy and comparative politics. It is well worth a read.

© 2010, Andrew Moran

Soltan, London, Routledge, 2009, viii + 204 pp., notes, bibliography, index, GBP70 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-415-77652-3