U.S. Idealism Meets Reality

Following September 11, 2001, democracy promotion in the Arab world became a top priority for U.S. national security. This study goes beyond simplistic condemnations of the Bush administration’s so-called “imperialistic policies” and highlights the complexities, competing interests, and inherent challenges of U.S. democracy promotion in a Middle Eastern context. An understanding of how U.S. policy towards the Middle East evolved after 9/11 is important because we continue to grapple with many related issues today: namely, whether and how to promote democracy in the Middle East, whether democratization is the best way to fight terrorism, how to balance short- and long-term security interests, how to engage with Islamists, and the overall repercussions of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
„A serious, penetrating study grounded in significant primary-source research in Washington and the Middle East, and a searching, balanced analytic approach. The study provides considerable insight into the realities of the Bush push on Middle East democracy both toward the region as a whole and the illuminating case of Morocco.“Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

„Zoé Nautré has written a compelling analysis of the pitfalls of U.S. efforts to promote democratiza–tion in the Middle East. It is crammed with impressive research on what actually happened when the George W. Bush Administration took its zeal for democracy into the Moroccan bazaar. It’s an excellent and highly recommended read.“
Martin Indyk, Vice president and director of Foreign Policy at Brookings Institution

"This book is a useful contribution for academics and practitioners alike"
Martin Indyk, Vice President Brookings Institute