Democratisation
Democratisation is a term that describes the structural transition from authoritarian government to a more democratic political regime. It includes substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction and the building of civil society. It is not easy and is frequently a hazardous process. Many scholars argue that sustainable pro-democratic change is only possible once the right social and economic conditions are in place. The conditions necessary for democratization are difficult to identify and may vary from one country to the next, and they often take much time to develop. This is why democratization is considered an ongoing process with frequent reversals and setbacks.
There is substantial debate about the factors that promote or limit democratization, with emphasis on the economic, cultural, individual agents and their choices, and international. For example, some scholars have claimed that the roots of democratization are to be found in industrialization, while others have suggested that it is a result of the dismantling of feudal relationships between lords and peasants. Other scholars have pointed to the links between democratization and conflict resolution, with particular focus on the relationship between democracy and peace.
Some theorists have tried to produce general explanations of democratization, such as those provided by Dankwart A. Rustow in his book Democratisation: A Theory of Institutional Change (1988). However, these efforts have been complicated by the fact that different theories produce very diverse results. They have also been hampered by the lack of concrete measures that can be used to gauge whether or not a country is a functioning democracy.
Two main approaches to democratization have emerged, which are complementary: one emphasizes favourable structural conditions and the other stresses elite choice. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. The favourable-conditions approach allows for a detailed explanation of democratization in particular countries, but it tends to lead to long lists of important factors and is therefore difficult to make generalizations. The elite-choice approach, on the other hand, produces a more concise list of important factors and is easier to use for making generalizations.
Regardless of the specific theory or models adopted, most researchers agree that democratization is usually a long, drawn-out, and often conflictual process. It is also a complex and asymmetrical affair, with some countries making very rapid progress while others struggle to catch up.
Several studies have shown that the success of democracy depends on a combination of factors, such as political will and commitment by the leadership and societal support. An example is Liberia, where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has managed to consolidate democracy despite two civil wars that left more than 250,000 people dead. The key to her success appears to be her willingness to engage in a multiparty system, reach out to the opposition, and compromise with former dictators. Similarly, Nelson Mandela was able to lead South Africa from racial conflict to multiracial democracy because of his enormous personal sacrifices and the immense collective political will to do so.
Democratisation is a term that describes the structural transition from authoritarian government to a more democratic political regime. It includes substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction and the building of civil society. It is not easy and is frequently a hazardous process. Many scholars argue that sustainable pro-democratic change is only possible once the right social and economic conditions are in place. The conditions necessary for democratization are difficult to identify and may vary from one country to the next, and they often take much time to develop. This is why democratization is considered an ongoing process with frequent reversals and setbacks. There is substantial debate about the factors that promote or limit democratization, with emphasis on the economic, cultural, individual agents and their choices, and international. For example, some scholars have claimed that the roots of democratization are to be found in industrialization, while others have suggested that it is a result of the dismantling of feudal relationships between lords and peasants. Other scholars have pointed to the links between democratization and conflict resolution, with particular focus on the relationship between democracy and peace. Some theorists have tried to produce general explanations of democratization, such as those provided by Dankwart A. Rustow in his book Democratisation: A Theory of Institutional Change (1988). However, these efforts have been complicated by the fact that different theories produce very diverse results. They have also been hampered by the lack of concrete measures that can be used to gauge whether or not a country is a functioning democracy. Two main approaches to democratization have emerged, which are complementary: one emphasizes favourable structural conditions and the other stresses elite choice. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. The favourable-conditions approach allows for a detailed explanation of democratization in particular countries, but it tends to lead to long lists of important factors and is therefore difficult to make generalizations. The elite-choice approach, on the other hand, produces a more concise list of important factors and is easier to use for making generalizations. Regardless of the specific theory or models adopted, most researchers agree that democratization is usually a long, drawn-out, and often conflictual process. It is also a complex and asymmetrical affair, with some countries making very rapid progress while others struggle to catch up. Several studies have shown that the success of democracy depends on a combination of factors, such as political will and commitment by the leadership and societal support. An example is Liberia, where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has managed to consolidate democracy despite two civil wars that left more than 250,000 people dead. The key to her success appears to be her willingness to engage in a multiparty system, reach out to the opposition, and compromise with former dictators. Similarly, Nelson Mandela was able to lead South Africa from racial conflict to multiracial democracy because of his enormous personal sacrifices and the immense collective political will to do so.