Factors That Influence a Country’s Democracy
Democracy is a political system in which a society allows its citizens to elect and replace the government. This is in contrast to other types of political systems, such as dictatorships, where the dictator or an appointed leader rules with supremacy. The development of a democratic system requires the formation of civil society, which is comprised of different political, social and cultural groups and practices that are capable of defining the limits of the state’s authority, monitoring government policies and defending citizens’ rights and liberties. It is therefore important for a society to have an active and independent civil society that will encourage pro-democratic change, as well as prevent the return of authoritarian rule.
Although there is disagreement among scholars about what constitutes democracy, most agree that a democracy must allow for an open and free electoral process, the right of free association and expression, the right to property and security of life and liberty, a separation of church and state, and the right to change one’s political beliefs without fear of persecution. Many of these principles are considered basic to a liberal democracy, and a society that possesses all these characteristics is said to have achieved democratization.
Democratization has often proved to be a difficult process, and there are many reasons why it might fail. There are a number of theories that try to explain the process of democratization and predict its success, failure, or regression into autocracy. Some of these theories attempt to identify the necessary conditions for a society to become democratic, while others analyze the factors that influence the speed and direction of a democratization process.
One of the most common explanations for a country’s ability to democratize is its level of economic development, since it is assumed that wealthy countries are more likely to adopt democracy. However, the fact that some rich countries remain authoritarian, and that poorer states have experienced a wave of democratic transitions during the 1980s and ’90s, suggests that wealth is not necessarily a prerequisite for a democracy.
Another widely accepted factor that influences a country’s democratization is its level of education. This is because educated citizens are more likely to understand politics and public affairs, and to be engaged in the political process. They also tend to have values that are compatible with democracy, such as a tolerance for diversity and a belief in the legitimacy of democratic processes.
A final factor that is commonly cited as being important for a country’s democratization is the existence of an international structure that promotes democratic reform. This includes international pressure for democratization, the presence of international organizations that support a democratic transition and democratic norms such as the respect for human rights. The existence of a global civil society also promotes democratization, since it provides the means for citizens of different nationalities to interact and form coalitions for democratic change. Finally, a positive relationship exists between the level of civil society engagement and a country’s democratization, as shown by the fact that societies with high levels of civic participation, such as volunteerism, are more likely to be democratic.
Democracy is a political system in which a society allows its citizens to elect and replace the government. This is in contrast to other types of political systems, such as dictatorships, where the dictator or an appointed leader rules with supremacy. The development of a democratic system requires the formation of civil society, which is comprised of different political, social and cultural groups and practices that are capable of defining the limits of the state’s authority, monitoring government policies and defending citizens’ rights and liberties. It is therefore important for a society to have an active and independent civil society that will encourage pro-democratic change, as well as prevent the return of authoritarian rule. Although there is disagreement among scholars about what constitutes democracy, most agree that a democracy must allow for an open and free electoral process, the right of free association and expression, the right to property and security of life and liberty, a separation of church and state, and the right to change one’s political beliefs without fear of persecution. Many of these principles are considered basic to a liberal democracy, and a society that possesses all these characteristics is said to have achieved democratization. Democratization has often proved to be a difficult process, and there are many reasons why it might fail. There are a number of theories that try to explain the process of democratization and predict its success, failure, or regression into autocracy. Some of these theories attempt to identify the necessary conditions for a society to become democratic, while others analyze the factors that influence the speed and direction of a democratization process. One of the most common explanations for a country’s ability to democratize is its level of economic development, since it is assumed that wealthy countries are more likely to adopt democracy. However, the fact that some rich countries remain authoritarian, and that poorer states have experienced a wave of democratic transitions during the 1980s and ’90s, suggests that wealth is not necessarily a prerequisite for a democracy. Another widely accepted factor that influences a country’s democratization is its level of education. This is because educated citizens are more likely to understand politics and public affairs, and to be engaged in the political process. They also tend to have values that are compatible with democracy, such as a tolerance for diversity and a belief in the legitimacy of democratic processes. A final factor that is commonly cited as being important for a country’s democratization is the existence of an international structure that promotes democratic reform. This includes international pressure for democratization, the presence of international organizations that support a democratic transition and democratic norms such as the respect for human rights. The existence of a global civil society also promotes democratization, since it provides the means for citizens of different nationalities to interact and form coalitions for democratic change. Finally, a positive relationship exists between the level of civil society engagement and a country’s democratization, as shown by the fact that societies with high levels of civic participation, such as volunteerism, are more likely to be democratic.