The Freedom Agenda traces the history of America's democratic evangelizing. James Traub, a journalist for The New York Times Magazine, describes the rise and fall of the Freedom Agenda during the Bush years, in part through interviews with key administration officials. He offers a richly detailed portrait of the administration's largely failed efforts to bolster democratic forces abroad. In the end, Traub argues that democracy matters--for human rights, for reconciliation among ethnic and religious groups, for political stability and equitable development--but the United States must exercise caution in its efforts to spread it, matching its deeds to its words, both abroad and at home.--From publisher description.