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Why? Philosophical discussions about everyday life is broadcast live on 89.3
FM in Grand Forks, other Prairie Public radio stations across the state, in
Winnipeg on Shaw Cable, 107.9, and online for anyone who wants it around the
world at www.whyradioshow.org







"Exporting Democracy"
Sunday July 12, 5:00 p.m. (central), with Paul E. Sum.

http://www.whyradioshow.org/upcomi1.jpg"Democracy assistance" has become
ever more important to U.S. foreign policy since the end of the Cold War.
Its goal is to help usher in or encourage democratic practices amongst the
world. But these attempts raise many philosophical questions including
whether it is possible to "export" democracy at all. Paul E. Sum is a
political scientist whose research explores the effectiveness of such
democracy assistance programs. In late July, he will travel to Romania for
one year to investigate that country's transition to democracy. With this
episode of WHY?, we will catch up with him before he goes and ask a range of
preliminary but related questions: What is a democracy? What conditions are
necessary for a transition to this form of government? What method most
effectively delivers democracy assistance? And, what has the track record of
the US attempt to foster democracy been so far? We hope, when he returns, to
revisit these questions and discover what new information he can provide
about the process of democratization in Romania and around the world.

Jack at the radio station.jpgPaul Sum is an Associate Professor of Political
Science at the University of North Dakota. His interests were shaped through
his experience during an earlier trip to Romania as a Visiting Scholar and
Fellow at Babeº-Bolyai University in Cluj (1996-1998). He has worked with
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of
State (formerly the U.S. Information Agency), the Council of Europe, the
OSCE, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Democratic
Institute for International Affairs, Democracy International, and the
International Research & Exchanges Board. His work includes monitoring
elections and campaigns, assessing pre and post-election voter surveys, and
evaluating the impact of various democracy assistance programs in Albania,
Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Romania among other locations.

Why?'s host Jack Weinstein says, "Paul is one of those people who teaches
you new facts about the world every time you engage him in conversation. His
ability to understand the practicalities of democratic behavior has opened
up, to me, an entirely new understanding as to how and why politics operates
as it does. We are truly fortunate to get to talk with him on the eve of a
whole new project, and to share with him the power of the unknown -- the
excitement of the unanswered question."

Have a question you want to ask Paul during the show? Ask it in advance by
sending it to: askwhy@...

Subscribe to the podcast or listen to previous episodes online at
www.whyradioshow.org






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College of Arts & Sciences





_____

Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein

Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion

Director, Institute for Philosophy in Public Life

University of North Dakota

Box 7128

Grand Forks, ND 58202-7128

(701) 777 - 2887

E-mail: <mailto:jack.weinstein@...> jack.weinstein@...

Web page: <http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/weinstei/>
http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/weinstei/

IPPL: <http://www.philosophyinpubliclife.org/>
http://www.philosophyinpubliclife.org/





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