The Process of Democracy
Democratisation is the structural transition of a government to a more democratic political regime. It can include the development of procedural democracy, a variety of freedoms and human rights, and substantive political changes that move in a democratic direction. It is often considered a crucial process in the path to peace, as a stable democracy will typically be less likely to engage in conflict with other nations.
However, the process of democratisation is not always straightforward, and a number of barriers have been identified that prevent or hamper it. These barriers can vary from cultural and economic factors to external influences. Political instability and social unrest can also halt the progress of a democratisation process, as seen in Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring movement. Inequality of wealth and income can also hinder the success of a democratisation process, as privileged groups may resist redistribution of resources. The success of a democratisation process can also be affected by international political and financial influence, as a government can be pressured to revert back to authoritarianism if it is perceived as being too close to Western-style democracies.
Developing a democratisation process can be a complex undertaking, and scholars have developed various theories to explain why some countries are more successful at it than others. Some have argued that there is a connection between industrialisation and democratisation, while others have posited that a nation’s economic structures and class relations are instrumental in determining whether or not it will become democratic.
Another theory is the transitional model, which holds that a country’s environment and circumstances at critical junctures are pivotal in deciding its future towards or away from democracy. This is often influenced by the political decisions made by the ruling elite at these junctures.
While the transitional model has had some success, it has been criticised for relying on a simplistic understanding of the nature of democracy and failing to take into account societal and cultural constraints that can inhibit the process. This has led some scholars to develop a more substantive approach, which takes into consideration both domestic and international factors that can shape a country’s democracy-building efforts.
The most well-known aspect of a democracy is a free and fair election, which requires citizens to be able to participate in the electoral process by voting and running for office. Democratisation can also lead to the development of a strong civil society, which includes an independent media and non-governmental organisations that protect people’s rights. It can also lead to greater social justice, as democracies are more likely to be responsive to the needs of poorer citizens than autocracies.
The effectiveness of a democracy is also measured by its capacity to deal with crises, which is linked to the strength of a democracy’s institutions and democratic culture. The ability of a democracy to respond to challenges posed by an influx of immigrants, for example, can be a litmus test for how well it has achieved its goals of promoting civic participation and democratic values.
Democratisation is the structural transition of a government to a more democratic political regime. It can include the development of procedural democracy, a variety of freedoms and human rights, and substantive political changes that move in a democratic direction. It is often considered a crucial process in the path to peace, as a stable democracy will typically be less likely to engage in conflict with other nations. However, the process of democratisation is not always straightforward, and a number of barriers have been identified that prevent or hamper it. These barriers can vary from cultural and economic factors to external influences. Political instability and social unrest can also halt the progress of a democratisation process, as seen in Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring movement. Inequality of wealth and income can also hinder the success of a democratisation process, as privileged groups may resist redistribution of resources. The success of a democratisation process can also be affected by international political and financial influence, as a government can be pressured to revert back to authoritarianism if it is perceived as being too close to Western-style democracies. Developing a democratisation process can be a complex undertaking, and scholars have developed various theories to explain why some countries are more successful at it than others. Some have argued that there is a connection between industrialisation and democratisation, while others have posited that a nation’s economic structures and class relations are instrumental in determining whether or not it will become democratic. Another theory is the transitional model, which holds that a country’s environment and circumstances at critical junctures are pivotal in deciding its future towards or away from democracy. This is often influenced by the political decisions made by the ruling elite at these junctures. While the transitional model has had some success, it has been criticised for relying on a simplistic understanding of the nature of democracy and failing to take into account societal and cultural constraints that can inhibit the process. This has led some scholars to develop a more substantive approach, which takes into consideration both domestic and international factors that can shape a country’s democracy-building efforts. The most well-known aspect of a democracy is a free and fair election, which requires citizens to be able to participate in the electoral process by voting and running for office. Democratisation can also lead to the development of a strong civil society, which includes an independent media and non-governmental organisations that protect people’s rights. It can also lead to greater social justice, as democracies are more likely to be responsive to the needs of poorer citizens than autocracies. The effectiveness of a democracy is also measured by its capacity to deal with crises, which is linked to the strength of a democracy’s institutions and democratic culture. The ability of a democracy to respond to challenges posed by an influx of immigrants, for example, can be a litmus test for how well it has achieved its goals of promoting civic participation and democratic values.