Democratisation
Democratisation is the process of establishing democracy in a country. In the simplest sense, a democracy is a government run by and for the people, with equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. A democracy is a system of government in which individuals have the opportunity to participate in political processes, express their opinions and select their leaders. It is often viewed as the best way to ensure that all citizens are treated fairly and have a say in how they are governed.
While there is a great deal of disagreement about what conditions promote (or limit) democratization, there are some broad areas of agreement. For example, there is general agreement that the path to democratization can vary greatly between countries. Some grew into democratic societies slowly and gradually, over centuries (e.g., Great Britain), whereas others became democratic much more rapidly (e.g., Baltic states). Some countries inherited democratic institutions from their colonial pasts, and others become democratic through foreign intervention following war (e.g., Japan and Germany).
In addition, there is a consensus that the degree to which a society is economically developed is an important factor in its ability to sustain and promote democratic governance. However, it is also widely believed that economic development alone is not sufficient to create a functioning democracy. This is based on the belief that for a democracy to work, it must gain the support of its citizens. Democracies are considered to be legitimate if they reflect the will of the majority of citizens and are perceived as effective.
There is also a widespread view that a culture that supports democracy is essential for democratization. This includes a tolerance for diversity, a belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy and reciprocal, a willingness to compromise and cooperate, and respect for individual liberty and equality. It is also generally believed that these values must be promoted through education.
A key concern is the difficulty of promoting democracy in societies that are not culturally or ideologically prepared for it. Hence the frequent warning that any democracy can be destabilised and even collapse if the conditions that support it are not present.
The US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003, respectively, have reaffirmed the view that any democratic transformation instigated by outside forces has only a limited chance of success, unless the subjected country is already a democracy or on a path toward it.
Another issue is that the democratization process can be complicated by the presence of elites in power who are hostile to democracy. This has been called the “democratic paradox” and is a central theme of many works on democratic transitions. In contrast, some scholars argue that elites who are unable to advance in the established regime will seek democracy as a way to escape it. They believe that this can be a driving force of democratic progress, particularly when the elites are able to make the transition successfully themselves.
Democratisation is the process of establishing democracy in a country. In the simplest sense, a democracy is a government run by and for the people, with equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. A democracy is a system of government in which individuals have the opportunity to participate in political processes, express their opinions and select their leaders. It is often viewed as the best way to ensure that all citizens are treated fairly and have a say in how they are governed. While there is a great deal of disagreement about what conditions promote (or limit) democratization, there are some broad areas of agreement. For example, there is general agreement that the path to democratization can vary greatly between countries. Some grew into democratic societies slowly and gradually, over centuries (e.g., Great Britain), whereas others became democratic much more rapidly (e.g., Baltic states). Some countries inherited democratic institutions from their colonial pasts, and others become democratic through foreign intervention following war (e.g., Japan and Germany). In addition, there is a consensus that the degree to which a society is economically developed is an important factor in its ability to sustain and promote democratic governance. However, it is also widely believed that economic development alone is not sufficient to create a functioning democracy. This is based on the belief that for a democracy to work, it must gain the support of its citizens. Democracies are considered to be legitimate if they reflect the will of the majority of citizens and are perceived as effective. There is also a widespread view that a culture that supports democracy is essential for democratization. This includes a tolerance for diversity, a belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy and reciprocal, a willingness to compromise and cooperate, and respect for individual liberty and equality. It is also generally believed that these values must be promoted through education. A key concern is the difficulty of promoting democracy in societies that are not culturally or ideologically prepared for it. Hence the frequent warning that any democracy can be destabilised and even collapse if the conditions that support it are not present. The US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003, respectively, have reaffirmed the view that any democratic transformation instigated by outside forces has only a limited chance of success, unless the subjected country is already a democracy or on a path toward it. Another issue is that the democratization process can be complicated by the presence of elites in power who are hostile to democracy. This has been called the “democratic paradox” and is a central theme of many works on democratic transitions. In contrast, some scholars argue that elites who are unable to advance in the established regime will seek democracy as a way to escape it. They believe that this can be a driving force of democratic progress, particularly when the elites are able to make the transition successfully themselves.