What is Democratisation?
Democratisation is the process by which societies move towards democracy. It encompasses many different aspects of a country’s political life, from the way it is run and the laws that are made to the way in which people interact with one another. Democracy includes the freedom to discuss ideas and opinions with other people, to form interest groups, and to protest against decisions that they disagree with. This means that citizens have the right to vote on issues affecting them, and that they can be heard by the government when it makes decisions. It also involves a level of accountability, with the requirement that public officials and politicians are transparent about how they spend money and why they make particular decisions.
It is difficult to define a precise point at which the process of Democratisation begins. Some academics see a beginning point in the breakdown of an authoritarian regime, and others think that it starts much earlier, with structural changes that weaken the power of a regime to the extent that opposition can begin to push for democratic reforms. Some democratisation theorists also think that the process continues long after the first elections, because the election of the first democratic governments does not ensure a functioning democracy.
Democracies are also associated with a number of features that can help to promote development within a country, such as greater stability and economic growth. In addition, they are linked with human rights and good governance, which can lead to increased investment, education, health care and other aspects of a country’s welfare.
In many countries, the emergence of democracy has been a result of increasing levels of economic development. Economic development usually leads to industrialisation, urbanisation and increased literacy rates, all of which can help to mobilise people and create more pro-democratic attitudes. It is also important that people have access to information and education about what democracy is, so they are more aware of the issues that need to be addressed.
The emergence of democracy often follows periods of rapid development, especially after a war or as the result of an external imposition. However, such a process is not guaranteed to succeed. In fact, the examples of Japan and Germany in the immediate post-World War II period show that democratic transitions instigated by outside forces are unlikely to work unless a society has certain prerequisites in place.
These include a level of civic consciousness, a commitment to liberal values, and a commitment by local elites to the democratic process. The latter is most important, because if a government is unable to win the trust of its population, it will find it impossible to carry out policies that benefit everyone in the community. It is also necessary for the emergence of a genuinely pluralist society, where there are different religious and cultural communities, and where all these are given an equal chance to participate in the political process. These conditions are not easy to create, and they can take a long time to mature.
Democratisation is the process by which societies move towards democracy. It encompasses many different aspects of a country’s political life, from the way it is run and the laws that are made to the way in which people interact with one another. Democracy includes the freedom to discuss ideas and opinions with other people, to form interest groups, and to protest against decisions that they disagree with. This means that citizens have the right to vote on issues affecting them, and that they can be heard by the government when it makes decisions. It also involves a level of accountability, with the requirement that public officials and politicians are transparent about how they spend money and why they make particular decisions. It is difficult to define a precise point at which the process of Democratisation begins. Some academics see a beginning point in the breakdown of an authoritarian regime, and others think that it starts much earlier, with structural changes that weaken the power of a regime to the extent that opposition can begin to push for democratic reforms. Some democratisation theorists also think that the process continues long after the first elections, because the election of the first democratic governments does not ensure a functioning democracy. Democracies are also associated with a number of features that can help to promote development within a country, such as greater stability and economic growth. In addition, they are linked with human rights and good governance, which can lead to increased investment, education, health care and other aspects of a country’s welfare. In many countries, the emergence of democracy has been a result of increasing levels of economic development. Economic development usually leads to industrialisation, urbanisation and increased literacy rates, all of which can help to mobilise people and create more pro-democratic attitudes. It is also important that people have access to information and education about what democracy is, so they are more aware of the issues that need to be addressed. The emergence of democracy often follows periods of rapid development, especially after a war or as the result of an external imposition. However, such a process is not guaranteed to succeed. In fact, the examples of Japan and Germany in the immediate post-World War II period show that democratic transitions instigated by outside forces are unlikely to work unless a society has certain prerequisites in place. These include a level of civic consciousness, a commitment to liberal values, and a commitment by local elites to the democratic process. The latter is most important, because if a government is unable to win the trust of its population, it will find it impossible to carry out policies that benefit everyone in the community. It is also necessary for the emergence of a genuinely pluralist society, where there are different religious and cultural communities, and where all these are given an equal chance to participate in the political process. These conditions are not easy to create, and they can take a long time to mature.