Chapter 1. Democracy Amidst Poverty: The Forbidden Fruit -- Africa -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo-the Most Violent Place on Planet Earth -- Nigeria-Poor and Divided -- Kenya-Riches to Rags -- South Africa-What Went Wrong? -- Others-The Ones that Got Away -- The Middle East -- Iraq-Uphill Democracy -- Iran-Disputed Democracy -- South Asia -- India-A Nation in Denial -- Western Europe -- The United Kingdom-The Pioneer -- The French Revolution-A Mirage -- Chapter 2. Democracy Derails Development: How and Why? -- The Course of Democracy and Development in the West -- Why Industrialize, Why Not Stay Agrarian and Develop? -- What Role Does Democracy play in the Development Process? -- Democracy and Poverty Alleviation-The Alternatives -- Chapter 3. Other Systems: Lessons Yet Unlearnt -- Aristocracy / Monarchy -- Afghanistan -- Military Rule -- Pakistan -- Myanmar -- Single Party Rule -- Colombia -- Spain -- China -- Oligarch Republics -- Ancient Greece -- Europe -- The UK -- The US -- Chapter 4. Wooing the Voters: Rules of the Game -- Instant Gratification-Rule by Freebies -- India-The Tamil Nadu TV scheme -- Cash and Other Bribes -- Sweden -- Use of Religion-How Faith Seals and Steals the Ballot -- The United States -- Turkey -- Algeria -- Other Divisive Factors -- India-Vote Your Caste -- Iraq -- The Anti-Something Campaign -- Other Lesser Evils -- Democratic Dynasties-By Choice -- Choice of Leaders-The X Factor -- Smear Campaigns, Rumors, Horse Trading, et al. -- Voter Ignorance-Last but Not Least -- Chapter 5. Fundamentalism: Radical by Choice -- South Africa: Zulu-Zuma Retrogression -- Rwanda-War Over, Lesson not Learnt -- Religious Fundamentalism -- Egypt-Steadfast Secularism -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan -- Chapter 6. Secession - The Right to Self Determination or National Disintegration? -- Yugoslavia-Democratic Disintegration.

Czech and Slovakia-The "Velvet Divorce" -- Germany-Strength in Unity -- Indonesia-Saved from Following Yugoslavia -- The UN Charter: The Right to Self Determination -- Chapter 7. Coalition Governments: Too Many Cooks -- Italy-Immobilismo -- Belgium Blues-"Velvet Divorce" On its Mind -- Denmark-"Green" and Happy -- Germany-The Quiet Pioneer -- Additional Considerations regarding Coalition Governments -- Environmental Movement and Coalitions -- Minimum Threshold-Relevance -- Positive Vote of Confidence -- Factionalism-The Banal Problem -- Chapter 8. Workaday Freedom: Differential Freedom Needs -- Basic Liberty-The Freedom to Exist -- Freedom from Poverty-and Helplessness -- Higher Order Needs-Freedom of Expression -- Measures of Freedom -- Chapter 9. The Verdict: Development or Democracy? -- Beginning with the End-Governance Goals -- Development Goals-Doing It the Hard Way -- War-Torn Nations-Emergency Call -- The Democratic "Ruined" Republic of Congo -- Iraq-Destiny Slipping, Yet Again -- Afghanistan and Pakistan -- The Misunderstood Exiles -- Myanmar -- Vietnam-Truth is Mightier than the Sword -- Deteriorating yet Complacent-Most Developing World Democracies -- Nigeria-The Borderline Nation -- Cameroon-A Sleepy State -- Kenya -- India-The Looming Crisis -- India-A Way Forward -- Legislating the Flaws Away-Minimal Essential Changes -- USSR to Russia-the Tumultuous Journey -- China-The Last Word -- Summing Up -- Chapter 10. The Decree: What is Good Governance? -- Defining the "End"-Measures of Good Governance -- Additional Source Notes -- Author's Note.