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{{Short description|1979 essay by Jeane Kirkpatrick}}
'''"Dictatorships and Double Standards"''' is an essay by [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]], published<ref>Jeane Kirkpatrick, "[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/dictatorships--double-standards-6189 Dictatorships and Double Standards]," [[Commentary Magazine]] Volume 68, No. 5, November 1979, pp. 34-45. & [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0671438360 Related book]</ref> in the November 1979 issue of ''[[Commentary (magazine)|Commentary Magazine]]'', which criticized the [[foreign policy]] of the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter administration]]. It is also the title of a 270 page book written by Kirkpatrick in 1982.<ref>Dictatorships and Double Standards: Rationalism and Reason in Politics, 1982 (ISBN 0-671-43836-0), Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0671438360</ref>
"'''Dictatorships and Double Standards'''" is an essay by [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] published in the November 1979 issue of ''[[Commentary (magazine)|Commentary]]'' magazine, which criticized the [[Presidency of Jimmy Carter#Foreign affairs|foreign policy]] of the [[Carter administration]].<ref>{{cite magazine|authorlink=Jeane Kirkpatrick|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Jeane|date=November 1979|url=https://www.commentary.org/articles/jeane-kirkpatrick/dictatorships-double-standards/|title=Dictatorships and Double Standards|work=[[Commentary Magazine|Commentary]]|volume=68|issue=5|pages=34–45|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228072902/http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/dictatorships-double-standards/|archivedate=February 28, 2011|url-status=dead}} See also [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671438360 ''Dictatorships and Double Standards: Rationalism and Reason in Politics''].</ref> It is also the title of a 270-page book written by Kirkpatrick in 1982.<ref>[[Jeane Kirkpatrick|Kirkpatrick, Jeane]]. (1982). ''Dictatorships and Double Standards: Rationalism and Reason in Politics''. {{ISBN|0-671-43836-0}}.</ref>


The article in Commentary Magazine in 1979 is credited with leading directly to Kirkpatrick's becoming an adviser to [[Ronald Reagan]] and thus her appointment as [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Weiner |title=Jeane Kirkpatrick, Reagan’s Forceful Envoy, Dies |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/washington/09kirkpatrick.html?pagewanted=print |work=The New York Times |date=2006-12-09 |accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |first=Timothy |last=Noah |authorlink=Timothy Noah |title=The Elusive Ronald Reagan |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801933_pf.html |work=The Washington Post |page=C04 |date=2007-03-29 |accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> Hence, the views expressed in Kirkpatrick's essay influenced the foreign policy of the Reagan administration, particularly with regard to Latin America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2006/12/14/jeane_kirkpatrick/ |title=Mugged by reality |accessdate=2008-09-13 |last=Blumenthal |first=Sidney |authorlink=Sidney Blumenthal |date=2006-12-14 |work=Salon}}</ref>
The article in ''Commentary'' magazine in 1979 is credited with leading directly to Kirkpatrick's becoming an adviser to [[Ronald Reagan]] and thus her appointment as [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Weiner|author-link=Tim Weiner|title=Jeane Kirkpatrick, Reagan's Forceful Envoy, Dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/washington/09kirkpatrick.html?pagewanted=print|work=The New York Times|date=December 9, 2006|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Timothy|last=Noah|author-link=Timothy Noah|title=The Elusive Ronald Reagan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801933_pf.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|page=C04|date=March 29, 2007|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> Hence, the views expressed in Kirkpatrick's essay influenced the [[Foreign policy of the Ronald Reagan administration|foreign policy]] of the [[Reagan administration]], particularly with regard to Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2006/12/14/jeane_kirkpatrick/|title=Mugged by reality|last=Blumenthal|first=Sidney|author-link=Sidney Blumenthal|work=Salon|date=December 14, 2006|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>


Kirkpatrick argued that by demanding rapid liberalization in traditionally [[autocrat]]ic countries, the Carter administration (and previous administrations) had delivered those countries to [[anti-American]] opposition groups that proved more repressive than the governments they overthrew. She further accused the administration of a "double standard" in that it had never applied its rhetoric on the necessity of liberalization to the affairs of [[Communist government]]s.
Kirkpatrick argued that by demanding rapid liberalization in traditionally [[Autocracy|autocratic]] countries, the Carter administration and previous administrations had delivered those countries to [[anti-American]] opposition groups that proved more repressive than the governments they overthrew. She further accused the administration of a "double standard" in that it had never applied its rhetoric on the necessity of liberalization to the affairs of [[Communist state|Communist governments]].


⚫
The essay compares traditional autocracies and Communist regimes: {{quote|[Traditional autocrats] do not disturb the habitual rhythms of work and leisure, habitual places of residence, habitual patterns of family and personal relations. Because the miseries of traditional life are familiar, they are bearable to ordinary people who, growing up in the society, learn to cope....
The essay compares traditional autocracies and Communist regimes:
⚫
:"[Traditional autocrats] do not disturb the habitual rhythms of work and leisure, habitual places of residence, habitual patterns of family and personal relations. Because the miseries of traditional life are familiar, they are bearable to ordinary people who, growing up in the society, learn to cope&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;."


:"[Revolutionary Communist regimes] claim jurisdiction over the whole life of the society and make demands for change that so violate internalized values and habits that inhabitants flee by the tens of thousands&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;."
[Revolutionary Communist regimes] claim jurisdiction over the whole life of the society and make demands for change that so violate internalized values and habits that inhabitants flee by the tens of thousands.}}


Kirkpatrick concluded that while the United States should encourage liberalization and democracy in autocratic countries, it should not do so when the government is facing violent overthrow, and should expect gradual change rather than immediate transformation.
Kirkpatrick concluded that while the United States should encourage liberalization and democracy in autocratic countries, it should not do so when the government is facing violent overthrow and should expect gradual change rather than immediate transformation.


==Criticism==
== Criticism ==
The [[AFL-CIO]]'s [[Tom Kahn]] criticized conceptual problems and strategic consequences in Kirkpatrick's analysis. In particular, Kahn suggested that policy should [[democracy promotion|promote democracy]] even in the countries dominated by [[Soviet communism]]. Kahn argued that the Polish labor-union Solidarity deserved U.S. support and even in its first years demonstrated that [[civil society]] could expand and that free [[labor unions]] could be organized, despite communist regimes. Kirkpatrick's analysis of communism was underestimated the democratic potential of the working class.<ref>{{citation<!-- allows "others=" unlike cite journal-->|title=Beyond the double standard: A social&nbsp;democratic view of the authoritarianism&nbsp;versus&nbsp;totalitarianism debate|first=Tom|last=Kahn|<!-- authorlink=Tom Kahn -->|journal=New America|publisher=[[Social Democrats,&nbsp;USA]]|month=July|year=1985 |url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/democratiya/docs/d12Kahn.pdf|format=pdf|others=January 1985 speech to the ‘Democratic Solidarity Conference’ organized by the Young Social&nbsp;Democrats (YSD) under the auspices of the Foundation for Democratic Education|ref=harv}}
[[AFL–CIO]]'s [[Tom Kahn]] criticized conceptual problems and strategic consequences in Kirkpatrick's analysis. In particular, Kahn suggested that policy should [[Democracy promotion|promote democracy]] even in the countries dominated by [[Soviet communism]]. Kahn argued that the Polish labor-union [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] deserved United States support and even in its first years demonstrated that [[civil society]] could expand and that free [[labor unions]] could be organized despite Communist regimes. Kirkpatrick's analysis of Communism underestimated the democratic potential of the working class.<ref>{{citation<!-- Allows "others=" unlike cite journal. -->|title=Beyond the Double Standard: A Social Democratic View of the Authoritarianism Versus Totalitarianism Debate|first=Tom|last=Kahn|author-link=Tom Kahn|journal=New America|publisher=[[Social Democrats, USA]]|date=July 1985|url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/wp-content/files_mf/1389820828d12Kahn.pdf|format=PDF|others=January 1985 speech to the 'Democratic Solidarity Conference' organized by the Young Social Democrats (YSD) under the auspices of the Foundation for Democratic Education}}
: Reprinted: {{cite journal|title=Beyond the double standard: A social&nbsp;democratic view of the authoritarianism&nbsp;versus&nbsp;totalitarianism debate|last=Kahn|first=Tom|<!-- authorlink=Tom Kahn -->|journal=[[Democratiya]] ''(merged into'' [[Dissent (magazine)|Dissent]] ''in 2009)''|volume=12|issue=Spring|year=2008|origyear=1985|pages=152–160|url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/democratiya/docs/d12Kahn.pdf|format=pdf|ref=harv}}
: Reprinted: {{cite journal|title=Beyond the Double Standard: A Social Democratic View of the Authoritarianism Versus Totalitarianism Debate|last=Kahn|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Kahn|journal=[[Democratiya]] |volume=12|issue=Spring|year=2008|orig-year=1985|pages=152–160|url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/democratiya/docs/d12Kahn.pdf}}{{dead link|date=December 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
</ref>


Ted Galen Carpenter of the [[Cato Institute]] has disputed this analysis, noting that while Communists movements tend to dispose rival authoritarians, the traditional authoritarian regimes supported by the US came to power by overthrowing democracies. He thus concludes that while Communist regimes are more difficult to eradicate, traditional autocratic regimes "pose the more lethal threat to functioning democracies."<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa058.html The United States and Third World Dictatorships: A Case for Benign Detachment] Ted Galen Carpenter. Cato Policy Analysis No. 58, August 15, 1985</ref>
Ted Galen Carpenter of the [[Cato Institute]] noted that while Communist movements tend to depose rival authoritarians, the traditional authoritarian regimes supported by the United States came to power by overthrowing democracies. Thus, he concludes that while Communist regimes are more difficult to eradicate, traditional autocratic regimes "pose the more lethal threat to functioning democracies".<ref>Ted Galen Carpenter (August 15, 1985). [http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa058.html "The United States and Third World Dictatorships: A Case for Benign Detachment"]. Cato Policy Analysis. No. 58.</ref>


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]
* [[Kirkpatrick Doctrine]]
* [[Commentary (magazine)]]


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


⚫
[[Category:1979 essays]]
{{poli-stub}}
⚫
[[Category:1970s essays]]
[[Category:American essays]]
[[Category:American essays]]
[[Category:Anti-communism in the United States]]
[[Category:Essays about politics]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the United States]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the United States]]
[[Category:Presidency of Jimmy Carter]]
[[Category:Works originally published in American magazines]]
[[Category:Works originally published in American magazines]]
[[Category:Works originally published in political magazines]]
[[Category:Works originally published in political magazines]]

Latest revision as of 06:56, 26 March 2024

"Dictatorships and Double Standards" is an essay by Jeane Kirkpatrick published in the November 1979 issue of Commentary magazine, which criticized the foreign policy of the Carter administration.[1] It is also the title of a 270-page book written by Kirkpatrick in 1982.[2]

The article in Commentary magazine in 1979 is credited with leading directly to Kirkpatrick's becoming an adviser to Ronald Reagan and thus her appointment as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.[3][4] Hence, the views expressed in Kirkpatrick's essay influenced the foreign policy of the Reagan administration, particularly with regard to Latin America.[5]

Kirkpatrick argued that by demanding rapid liberalization in traditionally autocratic countries, the Carter administration and previous administrations had delivered those countries to anti-American opposition groups that proved more repressive than the governments they overthrew. She further accused the administration of a "double standard" in that it had never applied its rhetoric on the necessity of liberalization to the affairs of Communist governments.

The essay compares traditional autocracies and Communist regimes:

[Traditional autocrats] do not disturb the habitual rhythms of work and leisure, habitual places of residence, habitual patterns of family and personal relations. Because the miseries of traditional life are familiar, they are bearable to ordinary people who, growing up in the society, learn to cope.... [Revolutionary Communist regimes] claim jurisdiction over the whole life of the society and make demands for change that so violate internalized values and habits that inhabitants flee by the tens of thousands.

Kirkpatrick concluded that while the United States should encourage liberalization and democracy in autocratic countries, it should not do so when the government is facing violent overthrow and should expect gradual change rather than immediate transformation.

Criticism

[edit]

AFL–CIO's Tom Kahn criticized conceptual problems and strategic consequences in Kirkpatrick's analysis. In particular, Kahn suggested that policy should promote democracy even in the countries dominated by Soviet communism. Kahn argued that the Polish labor-union Solidarity deserved United States support and even in its first years demonstrated that civil society could expand and that free labor unions could be organized despite Communist regimes. Kirkpatrick's analysis of Communism underestimated the democratic potential of the working class.[6]

Ted Galen Carpenter of the Cato Institute noted that while Communist movements tend to depose rival authoritarians, the traditional authoritarian regimes supported by the United States came to power by overthrowing democracies. Thus, he concludes that while Communist regimes are more difficult to eradicate, traditional autocratic regimes "pose the more lethal threat to functioning democracies".[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kirkpatrick, Jeane (November 1979). "Dictatorships and Double Standards". Commentary. Vol. 68, no. 5. pp. 34–45. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. See also Dictatorships and Double Standards: Rationalism and Reason in Politics.
  2. ^ Kirkpatrick, Jeane. (1982). Dictatorships and Double Standards: Rationalism and Reason in Politics. ISBN 0-671-43836-0.
  3. ^ Weiner, Tim (December 9, 2006). "Jeane Kirkpatrick, Reagan's Forceful Envoy, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  4. ^ Noah, Timothy (March 29, 2007). "The Elusive Ronald Reagan". The Washington Post. p. C04. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  5. ^ Blumenthal, Sidney (December 14, 2006). "Mugged by reality". Salon. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Kahn, Tom (July 1985), "Beyond the Double Standard: A Social Democratic View of the Authoritarianism Versus Totalitarianism Debate" (PDF), New America, January 1985 speech to the 'Democratic Solidarity Conference' organized by the Young Social Democrats (YSD) under the auspices of the Foundation for Democratic Education, Social Democrats, USA
    Reprinted: Kahn, Tom (2008) [1985]. "Beyond the Double Standard: A Social Democratic View of the Authoritarianism Versus Totalitarianism Debate" (PDF). Democratiya. 12 (Spring): 152–160.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Ted Galen Carpenter (August 15, 1985). "The United States and Third World Dictatorships: A Case for Benign Detachment". Cato Policy Analysis. No. 58.
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