The Process of Democracisation
Democratisation refers to the transformation of a country from a traditional authoritarian regime to one that promotes freedom of speech, the right to a fair election and the protection of human rights. This process is usually accompanied by economic development, increased education, urbanisation and industrialisation. The rise in the number of educated citizens means they are more likely to be active in the political and policy making processes. However, democratisation is not a straightforward process. It requires a large amount of social maturity, the willingness of a substantial portion of the population to unite and a large number of democratic values to be adopted.
There are a number of determinants of democratisation, including the size of the middle class, the number of power holders, the level of economic development, cultural factors and international factors. These determinants are not universally agreed upon, however.
Traditionally, democratisation has taken place in waves. There have been waves in countries such as western Europe during the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. However, a wave of democratic transitions also occurred in less developed countries in the 1980s. The Arab Spring was a major example of a transition from authoritarian rule to a more progressive form of governance. As a result, there is a scholarly debate about how a transition to democracy should be achieved. Some argue that economic prosperity is the most important factor, while others argue that education is the most important factor.
Some have argued that democratisation must occur in the context of a pro-democratic civil society. Building a more inclusive, democratic civil society allows citizens to participate in the policy making processes and gives them a voice in the broader context of the country. This broadens the participation of the public in policy implementation and provides a basis for accountability and justice. Consequently, the level of political maturity required to achieve a stable and democratic form of government varies from country to country.
Several studies have been done to investigate the factors influencing democratisation. For example, some researchers have cited the rise of a middle class as a moderating force in a country’s democratisation. In some countries, the middle class seeks protection through a strong legal system, while in other countries, it is more concerned with economic security and social stability.
Many developing countries are stuck in a transitional period between full-fledged authoritarianism and democratic governance. Even in democratic countries, corruption and other ills can arise. Moreover, the Arab Spring, which is often associated with events in Eastern Europe, was a significant event that was not necessarily indicative of a new trend towards a more democratic future.
A study from Columbia University has attempted to specify the conditions necessary for a democratisation process in Europe. One of the most important arguments in this theory is that a middle class is essential for preventing the onset of authoritarianism. While it is not a deterministic theory, it has the advantage of being theoretically concise and precise. But it suffers from the same problem that a multi-causality approach has: it fails to take into account the emergence of elite preferences.
Democratisation refers to the transformation of a country from a traditional authoritarian regime to one that promotes freedom of speech, the right to a fair election and the protection of human rights. This process is usually accompanied by economic development, increased education, urbanisation and industrialisation. The rise in the number of educated citizens means they are more likely to be active in the political and policy making processes. However, democratisation is not a straightforward process. It requires a large amount of social maturity, the willingness of a substantial portion of the population to unite and a large number of democratic values to be adopted. There are a number of determinants of democratisation, including the size of the middle class, the number of power holders, the level of economic development, cultural factors and international factors. These determinants are not universally agreed upon, however. Traditionally, democratisation has taken place in waves. There have been waves in countries such as western Europe during the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. However, a wave of democratic transitions also occurred in less developed countries in the 1980s. The Arab Spring was a major example of a transition from authoritarian rule to a more progressive form of governance. As a result, there is a scholarly debate about how a transition to democracy should be achieved. Some argue that economic prosperity is the most important factor, while others argue that education is the most important factor. Some have argued that democratisation must occur in the context of a pro-democratic civil society. Building a more inclusive, democratic civil society allows citizens to participate in the policy making processes and gives them a voice in the broader context of the country. This broadens the participation of the public in policy implementation and provides a basis for accountability and justice. Consequently, the level of political maturity required to achieve a stable and democratic form of government varies from country to country. Several studies have been done to investigate the factors influencing democratisation. For example, some researchers have cited the rise of a middle class as a moderating force in a country’s democratisation. In some countries, the middle class seeks protection through a strong legal system, while in other countries, it is more concerned with economic security and social stability. Many developing countries are stuck in a transitional period between full-fledged authoritarianism and democratic governance. Even in democratic countries, corruption and other ills can arise. Moreover, the Arab Spring, which is often associated with events in Eastern Europe, was a significant event that was not necessarily indicative of a new trend towards a more democratic future. A study from Columbia University has attempted to specify the conditions necessary for a democratisation process in Europe. One of the most important arguments in this theory is that a middle class is essential for preventing the onset of authoritarianism. While it is not a deterministic theory, it has the advantage of being theoretically concise and precise. But it suffers from the same problem that a multi-causality approach has: it fails to take into account the emergence of elite preferences.