The book by the editor-in-chief of the American magazine Newsweek International, Fareed Zakaria, has become a notable event in world political science and is actively discussed by foreign experts. The author believes that distorted and misleading ideas about the content and meaning of democracy have become widespread in the West. There is a confusion between the processes of democratization and liberalization, the identification of free elections and a fair social order. However, democracy characterizes only the form of government, and not the deep features of social organization, and therefore is neither an end in itself nor the embodiment of a socio-political ideal. A democratic system of government cannot be considered an absolute good; it can also be illiberal, lead to the tyranny of the majority, or serve to strengthen the power of authoritarian rulers. The strategy of imposing democracy on other countries, adopted by the United States government, is erroneous and cannot guarantee progress and prosperity in the modern world.

For political scientists, sociologists, historians, economists, specialists in the field of international relations, as well as the general public to the public.