The Role of the Bureaucracy in Democratisation
Democratisation is a process by which political systems evolve towards a more democratic state. It may involve the transition from a dictatorship to a full democracy, or from an authoritarian system to a semi-democratic one. Regardless of the exact timing of democratisation, it requires adequate political institutions to enable citizens to have a say in policy decisions and implementation.
There are many factors that influence democratisation, including economic, cultural, and historical influences. However, it is essential that a society develops to a point where most citizens understand democratic ideas, values, and practices. Without these, democratisation may only be a superficial process, or it could lead to a procedural democracy.
To understand the role of the bureaucracy in democratisation, it is important to distinguish between top-down and bottom-up democratisation. Both approaches aim to ensure the rule of law and development. While top-down democratisation may be more effective, it is also more risky and prone to failure than bottom-up democratisation.
Democratisation can help societies improve their quality of life. However, it is an imperfect process, and it has a mixed track record. Most developed nations pursued development prior to democratisation. The opposite is true in countries where authoritarian regimes have a predatory approach to development. In order to achieve true development, citizens must have a voice and democratic channels to pressure the elites. To achieve this, bottom-up democratisation needs to be achieved through a strong civil society and opposition parties.
Bottom-up democratisation reinforces civil society, holds leaders accountable, and engages the entire nation in development. Tanzania’s recent experiences offer some hope. The example of Igoe (2003) highlights local rights over traditional grazing and how locals asserted their rights against ineffective local leaders. These cases demonstrate that democracy can build the legitimacy of communities and hold government to account.
In the early 1990s, a pro-democracy movement started in the country. But it did not gain enough momentum to become successful. President Kolingba initially refused to agree to a National Conference and jailed proponents of democracy. However, he eventually agreed to multiparty elections. His supporters claimed the election had irregularities which allowed him to extend his reign. In 1993, a Mixed Electoral Commission, with representatives of the major parties, was established. In the following year, the country voted for a new constitution.
Throughout history, violent civil conflict has plagued many African countries. Although the 1990s saw the spread of democratic principles throughout the continent, many still suffer from political instability and civil unrest. This is largely due to the fact that African countries have never been able to resolve their conflicts in a sustainable manner. This paper builds on economic theories of institutions and contracts to examine how constitutional rules play a key role in achieving political stability. Self-sustaining constitutional rules help ensure the sustainability of democratic systems and prevent relapses into violent civil conflict.
Democratisation is a process by which political systems evolve towards a more democratic state. It may involve the transition from a dictatorship to a full democracy, or from an authoritarian system to a semi-democratic one. Regardless of the exact timing of democratisation, it requires adequate political institutions to enable citizens to have a say in policy decisions and implementation. There are many factors that influence democratisation, including economic, cultural, and historical influences. However, it is essential that a society develops to a point where most citizens understand democratic ideas, values, and practices. Without these, democratisation may only be a superficial process, or it could lead to a procedural democracy. To understand the role of the bureaucracy in democratisation, it is important to distinguish between top-down and bottom-up democratisation. Both approaches aim to ensure the rule of law and development. While top-down democratisation may be more effective, it is also more risky and prone to failure than bottom-up democratisation. Democratisation can help societies improve their quality of life. However, it is an imperfect process, and it has a mixed track record. Most developed nations pursued development prior to democratisation. The opposite is true in countries where authoritarian regimes have a predatory approach to development. In order to achieve true development, citizens must have a voice and democratic channels to pressure the elites. To achieve this, bottom-up democratisation needs to be achieved through a strong civil society and opposition parties. Bottom-up democratisation reinforces civil society, holds leaders accountable, and engages the entire nation in development. Tanzania’s recent experiences offer some hope. The example of Igoe (2003) highlights local rights over traditional grazing and how locals asserted their rights against ineffective local leaders. These cases demonstrate that democracy can build the legitimacy of communities and hold government to account. In the early 1990s, a pro-democracy movement started in the country. But it did not gain enough momentum to become successful. President Kolingba initially refused to agree to a National Conference and jailed proponents of democracy. However, he eventually agreed to multiparty elections. His supporters claimed the election had irregularities which allowed him to extend his reign. In 1993, a Mixed Electoral Commission, with representatives of the major parties, was established. In the following year, the country voted for a new constitution. Throughout history, violent civil conflict has plagued many African countries. Although the 1990s saw the spread of democratic principles throughout the continent, many still suffer from political instability and civil unrest. This is largely due to the fact that African countries have never been able to resolve their conflicts in a sustainable manner. This paper builds on economic theories of institutions and contracts to examine how constitutional rules play a key role in achieving political stability. Self-sustaining constitutional rules help ensure the sustainability of democratic systems and prevent relapses into violent civil conflict.