Theories of Democratisation
Democracy is a political system that allows people to vote for their preferred ruler and ensures that the government is held accountable by the citizens through various institutions. It is generally seen to allow for free speech, expression of opinion and the protection of property rights. It is also thought to encourage economic development and prevent the formation of authoritarian governments. Democratisation is the process by which a society moves from authoritarianism to democratic forms of governance. However, the process has never been linear or smooth and the path to a fully functioning democracy is littered with dangers.
Democratisation is generally seen to occur when a large portion of the population holds pro-democratic sentiments and is prepared to fight for them, either verbally or physically. Many theorists believe that a large middle class is crucial to this process, as they tend to be more interested in economic security and stability than the interests of either the poor or the rich. The presence of a large middle class is also believed to help to moderate class conflicts and prevent excessively radical positions from forming, which could lead to violence or dictatorship. The emergence of the Third Wave of democratisation, where it was promoted by Western powers rather than through an internal revolution, has prompted a number of scholars to rethink their theories of Democratisation.
The most common theories of Democratisation are divided into two distinct phases, the transition to democracy and the consolidation of democracy. The transition phase is oriented around the undermining of an authoritarian regime and the emergence of nascent democratic institutions and procedures, whereas the consolidation phase is concerned with establishing more permanent structures for democracy.
Both the transition and consolidation phases are complicated by a range of factors, including social and cultural norms, and the extent to which different groups support democracy. Some theorists believe that it is essential that these conditions are in place before a country can begin to progress towards a full democracy, and that any attempts to introduce democracy without the necessary preconditions will fail.
There is considerable debate over how these conditions are to be identified. Some theorists argue that favourable structural conditions are important, while others take the view that elite choice is the most critical factor. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. The structural-conditions approach allows for detailed explanation of the democratisation process in individual countries, but can be difficult to generalize, while the elite-choice theory is more concise and useful for making broad policy recommendations. In practice, the emergence of a democracy requires both.
Democracy is a political system that allows people to vote for their preferred ruler and ensures that the government is held accountable by the citizens through various institutions. It is generally seen to allow for free speech, expression of opinion and the protection of property rights. It is also thought to encourage economic development and prevent the formation of authoritarian governments. Democratisation is the process by which a society moves from authoritarianism to democratic forms of governance. However, the process has never been linear or smooth and the path to a fully functioning democracy is littered with dangers. Democratisation is generally seen to occur when a large portion of the population holds pro-democratic sentiments and is prepared to fight for them, either verbally or physically. Many theorists believe that a large middle class is crucial to this process, as they tend to be more interested in economic security and stability than the interests of either the poor or the rich. The presence of a large middle class is also believed to help to moderate class conflicts and prevent excessively radical positions from forming, which could lead to violence or dictatorship. The emergence of the Third Wave of democratisation, where it was promoted by Western powers rather than through an internal revolution, has prompted a number of scholars to rethink their theories of Democratisation. The most common theories of Democratisation are divided into two distinct phases, the transition to democracy and the consolidation of democracy. The transition phase is oriented around the undermining of an authoritarian regime and the emergence of nascent democratic institutions and procedures, whereas the consolidation phase is concerned with establishing more permanent structures for democracy. Both the transition and consolidation phases are complicated by a range of factors, including social and cultural norms, and the extent to which different groups support democracy. Some theorists believe that it is essential that these conditions are in place before a country can begin to progress towards a full democracy, and that any attempts to introduce democracy without the necessary preconditions will fail. There is considerable debate over how these conditions are to be identified. Some theorists argue that favourable structural conditions are important, while others take the view that elite choice is the most critical factor. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. The structural-conditions approach allows for detailed explanation of the democratisation process in individual countries, but can be difficult to generalize, while the elite-choice theory is more concise and useful for making broad policy recommendations. In practice, the emergence of a democracy requires both.