Fifty years ago, Joseph Schumpeter published Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, his classic study of the relationship between political democracy and alternative economic systems. Although Schumpeter's work continues to be widely read, many of its central conclusions have been called sharply into question by the developments of recent years.

After an introduction by the volume editors, the book offers a look at the complex relationship between nationalism and democracy. The authors then examine the special challenges facing democracy in ethnically divided societies.

How will civil-military relations affect efforts to consolidate new democracies in developing and postcommunist countries? How should democratic governments go about establishing civilian control of the armed forces? This volume brings together ten distinguished authorities from around the world to examine these questions as they relate to Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union.