The role of democracy promotion in US foreign policy has increased considerably in the last three decades, booming especially in the immediate years after the end of the Cold War. The rise of democracy promotion originated in a long historical tradition that saw exporting American political values as instrumental in securing US security and economic interests, an idea which was expressed freely once Cold War strategic constraints disappeared. Under Bill Clinton, there was an explicit attempt to do so by re-framing American strategy in terms of "democratic enlargement", this book assesses the strategic use of democracy promotion in US foreign policy and its different outcomes during his presidency.

Introduction--The roots and influence of democratic enlargement--Institutionalizing democracy promotion--Operationalizing democracy promotion--Democratic enlargement in Eurasia and Eastern Europe--Democratic enlargement in the rest of the world --The rewards of democratic enlargement --Conclusion.