What Is Democracisation?
Democratisation is the process through which a political system becomes democratic, that is, in which a government governs in accordance with the will of the people. As a result of this, democracy is the only form of governance that genuinely represents and reflects the interests of the whole population. The democratization of a country requires an aware and educated electorate, freedom of speech and assembly, a free press and the right to organize political groups or parties. It also entails the development of institutions that promote trust and transparency. These institutions will almost always take time to develop. The term democratization also includes a shift from a government that excludes certain individuals from the franchise, such as those who do not have property or literacy rights, to one that allows virtually all adults to vote.
Scholars have attempted to define the conditions that facilitate democratisation, but there is no consensus on what these are. Some emphasise the importance of economic development and high levels of literacy and education, which are necessary for a democratic society. Others point to the fact that a transition to democracy and the consolidation of democratic structures often coincide, but caution that the causal relationship is complex, and that other factors are required to explain variation in the success of democratisation.
It has also been argued that democratic societies require dense networks of civil associations that allow citizens to organise without state approval. These associations foster a civic culture that encourages the participation of all members of society and prevents the development of social tensions. Moreover, they help to create the kind of social ties that support the development of a sense of shared identity that is vital to democracy.
This theory has been challenged by the fact that many states with weak civil societies have been able to adopt the vocabulary of democracy and claim some relevant measures of legitimacy, even though they do not meet the democratic criteria for participation and contestation. It has also been argued that explanations that emphasise the importance of civil society are based on western models and overlook the fact that it is possible to have a pro-democratic regime in an area with very low educational standards.
In addition, the experience of reversion to authoritarianism by countries like Japan and Germany in the immediate post-World War II period has reinforced the belief that a process of democratisation instigated by foreign powers stands little chance of succeeding unless the subjected society has already gone through the initial transition from an authoritarian regime to a minimal democracy and has established democratic institutions. This is also true of the Afghan and Iraqi experiences, which are likely to reconfirm the widespread view that any attempt to impose democracy on societies that do not already have the necessary pro-democratic elements has no real prospect of succeeding.
Democratisation is the process through which a political system becomes democratic, that is, in which a government governs in accordance with the will of the people. As a result of this, democracy is the only form of governance that genuinely represents and reflects the interests of the whole population. The democratization of a country requires an aware and educated electorate, freedom of speech and assembly, a free press and the right to organize political groups or parties. It also entails the development of institutions that promote trust and transparency. These institutions will almost always take time to develop. The term democratization also includes a shift from a government that excludes certain individuals from the franchise, such as those who do not have property or literacy rights, to one that allows virtually all adults to vote. Scholars have attempted to define the conditions that facilitate democratisation, but there is no consensus on what these are. Some emphasise the importance of economic development and high levels of literacy and education, which are necessary for a democratic society. Others point to the fact that a transition to democracy and the consolidation of democratic structures often coincide, but caution that the causal relationship is complex, and that other factors are required to explain variation in the success of democratisation. It has also been argued that democratic societies require dense networks of civil associations that allow citizens to organise without state approval. These associations foster a civic culture that encourages the participation of all members of society and prevents the development of social tensions. Moreover, they help to create the kind of social ties that support the development of a sense of shared identity that is vital to democracy. This theory has been challenged by the fact that many states with weak civil societies have been able to adopt the vocabulary of democracy and claim some relevant measures of legitimacy, even though they do not meet the democratic criteria for participation and contestation. It has also been argued that explanations that emphasise the importance of civil society are based on western models and overlook the fact that it is possible to have a pro-democratic regime in an area with very low educational standards. In addition, the experience of reversion to authoritarianism by countries like Japan and Germany in the immediate post-World War II period has reinforced the belief that a process of democratisation instigated by foreign powers stands little chance of succeeding unless the subjected society has already gone through the initial transition from an authoritarian regime to a minimal democracy and has established democratic institutions. This is also true of the Afghan and Iraqi experiences, which are likely to reconfirm the widespread view that any attempt to impose democracy on societies that do not already have the necessary pro-democratic elements has no real prospect of succeeding.