The fallacy of the assumption that "anger will translate into cohesion" may seem easy to point out, but captures the central ambiguity of violent change very well - whether "home-grown" or induced from afar.
Is the American revolution an exception? Well, some prominent Americans have thought everything about America is exceptional. Strobe Talbott in 1995, summing up why post-Soviet Russia would have to fit in with the superior ways of the American century: "That's us, that's the US: We are exceptional."
But maybe a quirky analysis could also be made of the institutional consequences of the putatively exceptional American revolution. I.e. it's apparent niceness was followed by the formalisation of a constitutional, presidential and electoral college system that's pretty weird, and (especially the electoral college) remains weirdly anchored to the historical moment when the states became united. I.e. nice revolution and nice break with colonial status, but pity about the way the country' democracy has ended up.
In case of use, Jacques Rancière's "Hatred of Democracy" is a short and racy return to some of the tricky bits at the bottom of the democratic machine:
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. I agree that the American case deserves deeper scrutiny. You are absolutely right that both the durability and the limitations of its institutions remain central to democratic debate today. My intention was not to idealise the American experience, but to address some of my Iranian fellows who are desperately searching for historical examples where revolution or foreign intervention successfully produced democracy—and who often point to the American Revolution as the bold model, hoping that same result might occur in Iran as well. I also appreciate the reference to Rancière; his reflections on the tensions within democracy are highly relevant to this discussion.
Excellent, instructive article - a great read.
The fallacy of the assumption that "anger will translate into cohesion" may seem easy to point out, but captures the central ambiguity of violent change very well - whether "home-grown" or induced from afar.
Is the American revolution an exception? Well, some prominent Americans have thought everything about America is exceptional. Strobe Talbott in 1995, summing up why post-Soviet Russia would have to fit in with the superior ways of the American century: "That's us, that's the US: We are exceptional."
But maybe a quirky analysis could also be made of the institutional consequences of the putatively exceptional American revolution. I.e. it's apparent niceness was followed by the formalisation of a constitutional, presidential and electoral college system that's pretty weird, and (especially the electoral college) remains weirdly anchored to the historical moment when the states became united. I.e. nice revolution and nice break with colonial status, but pity about the way the country' democracy has ended up.
In case of use, Jacques Rancière's "Hatred of Democracy" is a short and racy return to some of the tricky bits at the bottom of the democratic machine:
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/1990-hatred-of-democracy?srsltid=AfmBOopxiuWCWrf61eY-m0cRTJEEoSrMeZMTJTgqZ4qnAaz6dIjijVGj
And:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.oddweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Ranci%25C4%258Dre-Hatred-of-Democracy.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjnhYDcpdOSAxW5T_UHHegzC9YQFnoECFQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2JrUPDhxSdwuRylseXWBHL
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. I agree that the American case deserves deeper scrutiny. You are absolutely right that both the durability and the limitations of its institutions remain central to democratic debate today. My intention was not to idealise the American experience, but to address some of my Iranian fellows who are desperately searching for historical examples where revolution or foreign intervention successfully produced democracy—and who often point to the American Revolution as the bold model, hoping that same result might occur in Iran as well. I also appreciate the reference to Rancière; his reflections on the tensions within democracy are highly relevant to this discussion.
My pleasure. I can well understand your attention to the actualities of the American example in the current international situation.
With thanks for your ongoing examination of the events in Iran.