Conflict Resolution and the Concept of Democratisation
Democratisation is the process of establishing a democratic political regime. It is one of the most important trends in modern politics and one whose significance is only just being understood by conflict-resolution practitioners. Democracy is a complex idea, combining different attitudes and values into a broad set of principles that include: the principle of justice (all citizens must be treated with equal dignity and respect by society and its institutions); the principle of free will (citizens can make their own decisions freely within the bounds of laws); and the principle of power-sharing between the people and government. A democracy requires compromise and mutual understanding, as well as good governance – which must include delivering services and demonstrating trustworthiness – and the active involvement of its citizens. It also needs a vibrant media, and a culture of free speech and expression.
In recent times, we have witnessed a series of democratic revolutions in countries that were previously viewed as authoritarian and often repressive. These have shown that democracy is not only possible, but desirable, even in the most disadvantaged societies. However, it is not necessarily easy to establish. Some scholars believe that a democratic system must be based on an underlying cultural value of the ‘people’s will’. These are attitudes and beliefs that can be difficult to foster in the long run – such as a tolerance for diversity, a belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy and that they should be given a say in how their country is governed; and the capacity for civic participation.
Many scholars also argue that a basic condition for democratization is the existence of an education system in which citizens are taught to understand and discuss their political ideas. Educated citizens are believed to be better equipped to understand and debate public issues and they are more likely to demand that their governments listen to them and demonstrate accountability. They are also believed to be more likely to hold values in keeping with a democratic system and to be able to make informed choices about which type of government they would like to live under.
It is generally accepted that it is necessary for a democratic system to have a large and diverse population in order to be able to resolve problems involving very complex issues, such as the allocation of resources or the development of new laws. In this way, it is possible to ensure that everyone’s concerns are taken into account and that no one group benefits more than another.
Finally, it is argued that democracy provides an opportunity for citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, which are fundamental human rights and which should not be taken away by any state. There is no consensus on exactly which conditions facilitate democratization and on how these are linked with one another, but there is general agreement that they are not deterministic. The most important conditions appear to be the presence of a culture of civic engagement, an education system that encourages and rewards political participation, and economic development which makes it possible for citizens to become engaged in politics.
Democratisation is the process of establishing a democratic political regime. It is one of the most important trends in modern politics and one whose significance is only just being understood by conflict-resolution practitioners. Democracy is a complex idea, combining different attitudes and values into a broad set of principles that include: the principle of justice (all citizens must be treated with equal dignity and respect by society and its institutions); the principle of free will (citizens can make their own decisions freely within the bounds of laws); and the principle of power-sharing between the people and government. A democracy requires compromise and mutual understanding, as well as good governance – which must include delivering services and demonstrating trustworthiness – and the active involvement of its citizens. It also needs a vibrant media, and a culture of free speech and expression. In recent times, we have witnessed a series of democratic revolutions in countries that were previously viewed as authoritarian and often repressive. These have shown that democracy is not only possible, but desirable, even in the most disadvantaged societies. However, it is not necessarily easy to establish. Some scholars believe that a democratic system must be based on an underlying cultural value of the ‘people’s will’. These are attitudes and beliefs that can be difficult to foster in the long run – such as a tolerance for diversity, a belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy and that they should be given a say in how their country is governed; and the capacity for civic participation. Many scholars also argue that a basic condition for democratization is the existence of an education system in which citizens are taught to understand and discuss their political ideas. Educated citizens are believed to be better equipped to understand and debate public issues and they are more likely to demand that their governments listen to them and demonstrate accountability. They are also believed to be more likely to hold values in keeping with a democratic system and to be able to make informed choices about which type of government they would like to live under. It is generally accepted that it is necessary for a democratic system to have a large and diverse population in order to be able to resolve problems involving very complex issues, such as the allocation of resources or the development of new laws. In this way, it is possible to ensure that everyone’s concerns are taken into account and that no one group benefits more than another. Finally, it is argued that democracy provides an opportunity for citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, which are fundamental human rights and which should not be taken away by any state. There is no consensus on exactly which conditions facilitate democratization and on how these are linked with one another, but there is general agreement that they are not deterministic. The most important conditions appear to be the presence of a culture of civic engagement, an education system that encourages and rewards political participation, and economic development which makes it possible for citizens to become engaged in politics.