July 1995

Volume 6, Issue 3

Departures from Communism

A review of From Reform to Revolution: The Demise of Communism in China and the Soviet Union, by Minxin Pei and Sowing the Seeds of Democracy in China: Political Reform in the Deng Xiaoping Era, by Merlec Goldman.

Venezuela Falters

A review of Strong Parties and Lame Ducks: Presidential Partyarchy and Factionalism in Venezuela, by Michael Coppedge and Democracy for the Privileged: Crisis and Transition in Venezuela, by Richard S. Hillman.

Documents on Democracy

Excerpts from: a petition by forty-five prominent Chinese intellectuals calling for increased political tolerance; the inaugural speech of Julio María Sanguinetti, the president of Uruguay; remarks by You Ching, country magistrate of Taipei, Taiwan. 

News and Notes

NED Hosts Fifth World Conference on Democracy; New Bibliography on Democracy Available; Civic Educators Brought Together in Prague; Democratic Governance in the Americas Explored; Conference Focuses on Post-communist Transitions; Civil-Military Relations in Latin America Examined; Meeting of African Women in Politics; International Electoral and Democracy Group Founded; Report on NED’s International Forum.

Election Watch

Reports on elections in Argentina, Belarus, Benin, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Peru, Philippines, Zimbabwe.