Democratisation
The process by which a society gradually moves from authoritarianism or minimal democracy to substantive democracy. Democratisation is not simply a political process; it includes the development of civil society, the introduction of civic education, and a change in attitudes toward women and minority groups. Moreover, it must also involve the acceptance of a democratic culture – a set of beliefs and values that promote tolerance, compromise, and respect for citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Throughout history, many societies have experienced democratic transitions that were neither smooth nor complete. In fact, democratisation has always been a risky enterprise and it can take place only when the right social and economic conditions are present.
One widely accepted requirement is the existence of a large middle class. In general, it is believed that middle-class interests in economic stability and security balance the extremist tendencies of the rich (who want to control government) and the poor (who desire equal opportunities). The middle classes pressure governments to liberalize and support democratic reforms. In addition, their economic clout makes it possible for them to pressurize authoritarian elites to adopt pro-democratic policies.
In the 1960s and ’70s, scholars developed a substantive approach to studying democratisation. The core assumption of this theory was that a country cannot move from authoritarianism or minimalist democracy to substantive democracy without passing through certain phases: civil society changes, procedural democracy, and consolidated democracy.
The problem with the substantive approach is that it tended to focus on long-term historical processes and neglected the short-term factors that are crucial for democratic transitions. Moreover, it ignored the role of international structural forces in shaping democracy and its precursors.
Today, most scholars acknowledge that while the level of economic development may not explain a country’s timing in moving to democracy, it does determine the likelihood of consolidation once a society has achieved democracy. This is because countries that have high levels of per capita GDP are much more likely to sustain democratic systems.
There is less agreement, however, about the factors that are necessary for democratic transitions and consolidation. Some scholars believe that a democratic culture is essential. This is a set of attitudes and beliefs that support democratic institutions and practices, including tolerance of diversity, the belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy, a willingness to share power and cooperate, and a commitment to freedom and equality.
Similarly, others believe that a democratic cultural infrastructure is necessary. This is a network of organizations that promotes democracy by providing training, funding, and other resources to civil society. The United Nations Democracy Fund is an example of such an institution. It funds a variety of projects that encourage the participation of marginalized groups, such as women and minorities, in the democratic process, especially during transitional and consolidative phases of democratization. These include projects that promote youth empowerment in Cote d’Ivoire and initiatives to promote electoral transparency in Palestine. In addition, it supports civil society organizations that mobilize women to participate in elections and promote political accountability and transparency.
The process by which a society gradually moves from authoritarianism or minimal democracy to substantive democracy. Democratisation is not simply a political process; it includes the development of civil society, the introduction of civic education, and a change in attitudes toward women and minority groups. Moreover, it must also involve the acceptance of a democratic culture – a set of beliefs and values that promote tolerance, compromise, and respect for citizens’ rights and freedoms. Throughout history, many societies have experienced democratic transitions that were neither smooth nor complete. In fact, democratisation has always been a risky enterprise and it can take place only when the right social and economic conditions are present. One widely accepted requirement is the existence of a large middle class. In general, it is believed that middle-class interests in economic stability and security balance the extremist tendencies of the rich (who want to control government) and the poor (who desire equal opportunities). The middle classes pressure governments to liberalize and support democratic reforms. In addition, their economic clout makes it possible for them to pressurize authoritarian elites to adopt pro-democratic policies. In the 1960s and ’70s, scholars developed a substantive approach to studying democratisation. The core assumption of this theory was that a country cannot move from authoritarianism or minimalist democracy to substantive democracy without passing through certain phases: civil society changes, procedural democracy, and consolidated democracy. The problem with the substantive approach is that it tended to focus on long-term historical processes and neglected the short-term factors that are crucial for democratic transitions. Moreover, it ignored the role of international structural forces in shaping democracy and its precursors. Today, most scholars acknowledge that while the level of economic development may not explain a country’s timing in moving to democracy, it does determine the likelihood of consolidation once a society has achieved democracy. This is because countries that have high levels of per capita GDP are much more likely to sustain democratic systems. There is less agreement, however, about the factors that are necessary for democratic transitions and consolidation. Some scholars believe that a democratic culture is essential. This is a set of attitudes and beliefs that support democratic institutions and practices, including tolerance of diversity, the belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy, a willingness to share power and cooperate, and a commitment to freedom and equality. Similarly, others believe that a democratic cultural infrastructure is necessary. This is a network of organizations that promotes democracy by providing training, funding, and other resources to civil society. The United Nations Democracy Fund is an example of such an institution. It funds a variety of projects that encourage the participation of marginalized groups, such as women and minorities, in the democratic process, especially during transitional and consolidative phases of democratization. These include projects that promote youth empowerment in Cote d’Ivoire and initiatives to promote electoral transparency in Palestine. In addition, it supports civil society organizations that mobilize women to participate in elections and promote political accountability and transparency.