Rice taps Slaughter for democracy project

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 chaired the inaugural meeting of the Department of State's Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion Monday morning, making opening remarks and fielding questions to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The meeting opened with 45 minutes of public discussion on issues ranging from how Palestine's electoral system benefits Hamas to American overtures to Russian newspapers critical of the Kremlin.

Rice spoke strongly against any implication that it is the United States' responsibility to impose democracy.

"A far better name for the committee would be the Advisory Committee for Democracy Support, rather than 'promotion,' " Slaughter said in an email after the meeting, seconding Rice's statement.

"An outside actor ... cannot create or foster or even promote democracy," she added. "It can support the efforts of individuals and groups in any country who seek to build government with the consent of the people."

Slaughter — who has also served on the boards of the Council on Foreign Relations and the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy think tank — said the committee's role is to provide policy advice to the State Department on how the U.S. government can help spread democracy and respect for human rights around the world.

The 15-member Committee — which includes academics from Harvard, Duke and Georgetown, as well as presidents of several public policy nonprofits and think tanks — will meet twice a year, but will offer advice to the State Department "on an ongoing basis."

Wilson School professor Aaron Friedberg is also a member.

Nolan McCarty, professor and associate dean of the Wilson School, praised Slaughter and Friedberg's involvement as beneficial to Princeton students.

"These scholars bring their experiences in government back to campus to enhance their own courses as well as the overall curriculum," McCarty said.

Slaughter's State Department appointment, however, may potentially reignite last spring's controversy over visits made by Rice, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Gen. David Petraeus GS '87.

More than 100 students and faculty members questioned the apparent pro-Bush slant of the speakers, eventually hosting a roundtable and circulating a petition complaining about Slaughter's statement that Rice's career "exemplifies" the University's values.

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Slaughter refuted the charges, telling The Daily Princetonian that the University attempts to invite speakers representing "a broad spectrum of careers, expertise and perspectives."

At the time, both President Tilghman and Slaughter stressed that while the University does not necessarily endorse the policies of those government officials who speak on campus, it does endorse the dedication to public service demonstrated by the nation's leaders.

Danilo Mandic '07, a student involved in last year's criticisms, worries that Slaughter and Friedberg's involvement in the State Department committee will intensify a trend in which students are exposed only to governmental views.

"Very, very few [of the speakers brought to campus] are independent," Mandic said. "Almost no one isn't affiliated with the government."

Slaughter mentioned, however, that she has already been contacted by students eager to work on the issues the committee will address.

"I hope that it is an example of Princeton in the Nation's Service," she said.