Cornel West - Democracy Matters

Award-winning scholar, professor, author and social commentator Cornel West speaks at the National Constitution Center. Richard Stengel interviews Professor West about his most recent book, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism. In this controversial sequel to 1993's Race Matters, West's takes what Publisher's Weekly calls an "unflinching" look at what he sees as American imperialism. American democracy, argues West, is at risk because of threatened by free market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism. West makes extensive use of literary and historical parallels, ranging from Alexis de Tocqueville, Herman Melville and Ralph Waldo Emerson to Toni Morrison. Dr. Cornel West, the Professor of Religion at Princeton University, is a respected scholar of religion, philosophy, and African-American history. Located on Philadelphia's historic Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its relevance to Americans' daily lives. For more information, call 215.409.6600 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.