Democratisation
The process by which a political system becomes more democratic. In general, a democracy involves broad and equal citizenship; binding consultation of citizens by the state on key issues; and protection from arbitrary state action. Democratisation can occur through a variety of changes, including the gradual evolution of political institutions; the emergence of civic organisations that enable citizens to express their views; and the development of trust networks that allow individuals to organise themselves into collective action. Democratisation can also be induced by external forces, such as conquest, confrontation, colonisation or revolution. There is no agreement on the optimum path to democracy, but it seems likely that it involves a long-term, incremental process. Great Britain, for example, took centuries to move from absolute monarchy to one of the world’s most enduring democracies; and even then, it was far from stable.
The relationship between democratisation and economic development is important. Some scholars argue that democratisation promotes economic growth and therefore increases the likelihood of capitalist take-off; while others argue that it is difficult to sustain liberal democracy alongside a market economy, particularly if such a society is not yet sufficiently consolidated or mature. The compatibility of Islam with democracy is an ongoing source of debate.
Many scholars of democratisation have argued that a key factor in the process is the presence of civic organisations, which enable ordinary citizens to participate in public life. These include NGOs and political parties, as well as informal organisations such as religious congregations or sports clubs. This civic engagement, it is suggested, generates the social bonds and tolerance that are the foundation of a democratic political system.
Another major theme is the importance of reducing ethnic and other tensions in a country before it can democratise. Such tensions can lead to intractable conflict, which will prevent a country from developing the institutions and value systems that make democratic peace possible. The relationship between war and democratisation is also important; some scholars have drawn attention to the role of military conflict in bringing about democratisation, while others have emphasised the limits of the ‘democratic peace’ concept.
It is also important to note that a democratisation process will only work if the subjected society is willing. This requires a certain level of cultural and political maturity that will allow people to grasp democratic ideas, values and practices as not threatening but complementing their traditional referents of identity and beliefs about what constitutes the common good. Without such a readiness, any efforts to democratise a society will produce at most only procedural democracy.
The process by which a political system becomes more democratic. In general, a democracy involves broad and equal citizenship; binding consultation of citizens by the state on key issues; and protection from arbitrary state action. Democratisation can occur through a variety of changes, including the gradual evolution of political institutions; the emergence of civic organisations that enable citizens to express their views; and the development of trust networks that allow individuals to organise themselves into collective action. Democratisation can also be induced by external forces, such as conquest, confrontation, colonisation or revolution. There is no agreement on the optimum path to democracy, but it seems likely that it involves a long-term, incremental process. Great Britain, for example, took centuries to move from absolute monarchy to one of the world’s most enduring democracies; and even then, it was far from stable. The relationship between democratisation and economic development is important. Some scholars argue that democratisation promotes economic growth and therefore increases the likelihood of capitalist take-off; while others argue that it is difficult to sustain liberal democracy alongside a market economy, particularly if such a society is not yet sufficiently consolidated or mature. The compatibility of Islam with democracy is an ongoing source of debate. Many scholars of democratisation have argued that a key factor in the process is the presence of civic organisations, which enable ordinary citizens to participate in public life. These include NGOs and political parties, as well as informal organisations such as religious congregations or sports clubs. This civic engagement, it is suggested, generates the social bonds and tolerance that are the foundation of a democratic political system. Another major theme is the importance of reducing ethnic and other tensions in a country before it can democratise. Such tensions can lead to intractable conflict, which will prevent a country from developing the institutions and value systems that make democratic peace possible. The relationship between war and democratisation is also important; some scholars have drawn attention to the role of military conflict in bringing about democratisation, while others have emphasised the limits of the ‘democratic peace’ concept. It is also important to note that a democratisation process will only work if the subjected society is willing. This requires a certain level of cultural and political maturity that will allow people to grasp democratic ideas, values and practices as not threatening but complementing their traditional referents of identity and beliefs about what constitutes the common good. Without such a readiness, any efforts to democratise a society will produce at most only procedural democracy.