What is Democratisation?
Democratisation is the structural transition from an authoritarian government to a democracy, including all of the substantive political changes that move in a democratic direction. Democratisation is often viewed as one of the major world trends, changing the political landscape from an era when democracies were the exception to one in which they are the rule.
The growth of a global culture that associates democracy with a host of positive outcomes, from economic development to respect for human rights, has contributed to the explosion of interest in democratization. The popularity of democracy has also accelerated as a result of the widespread recognition that it is the best system for ensuring a free and peaceful society.
There are many different approaches to democratization, reflecting the wide range of conditions under which it occurs. Some scholars believe that democracy can be imposed by outside forces, and cite the example of the US-led democratisation of Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the failure of these efforts to produce anything more than a form of manipulable procedural democracy highlights the limits of this approach.
Other scholars hold that democratization must grow from within a society, and argue that successful democratisation depends on the existence of a supportive cultural environment in which democratic institutions can flourish. Supporters of this argument point to studies that show a direct causal link between the degree of democracy in a country and its level of democratic attitudes and values.
Still others stress the importance of economic development in fostering democratization, and argue that countries that are richer tend to have more democratic institutions than those that are poorer. They also claim that the economic progress associated with democratization helps to reduce poverty and raise living standards, making it possible for citizens to afford to participate in the political process.
A third group of scholars emphasizes the role that education plays in democratization, and argue that societies with high levels of educational achievement are more likely to have democratic institutions and values. This is largely due to the fact that educated citizens are more likely to be active participants in politics, and are better able to understand different political ideas and beliefs.
Finally, some scholars assert that a country’s culture can be transformed by democratic experiences. They note that, in the past, a number of democratic regimes have developed a culture that is supportive of democracy, and that this may be a crucial factor in the success of democratic transitions.
The vast diversity of the conditions under which democratization takes place means that it is difficult to generalize about the factors that are most important. But there is broad agreement that a variety of conditions are essential for the process to succeed, such as a high degree of civil-society activism, the availability of political alternatives, and a sense of popular ownership of the government. Also essential is the presence of a level of trust and tolerance that makes it possible for different groups to cooperate in a democratic environment.
Democratisation is the structural transition from an authoritarian government to a democracy, including all of the substantive political changes that move in a democratic direction. Democratisation is often viewed as one of the major world trends, changing the political landscape from an era when democracies were the exception to one in which they are the rule. The growth of a global culture that associates democracy with a host of positive outcomes, from economic development to respect for human rights, has contributed to the explosion of interest in democratization. The popularity of democracy has also accelerated as a result of the widespread recognition that it is the best system for ensuring a free and peaceful society. There are many different approaches to democratization, reflecting the wide range of conditions under which it occurs. Some scholars believe that democracy can be imposed by outside forces, and cite the example of the US-led democratisation of Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the failure of these efforts to produce anything more than a form of manipulable procedural democracy highlights the limits of this approach. Other scholars hold that democratization must grow from within a society, and argue that successful democratisation depends on the existence of a supportive cultural environment in which democratic institutions can flourish. Supporters of this argument point to studies that show a direct causal link between the degree of democracy in a country and its level of democratic attitudes and values. Still others stress the importance of economic development in fostering democratization, and argue that countries that are richer tend to have more democratic institutions than those that are poorer. They also claim that the economic progress associated with democratization helps to reduce poverty and raise living standards, making it possible for citizens to afford to participate in the political process. A third group of scholars emphasizes the role that education plays in democratization, and argue that societies with high levels of educational achievement are more likely to have democratic institutions and values. This is largely due to the fact that educated citizens are more likely to be active participants in politics, and are better able to understand different political ideas and beliefs. Finally, some scholars assert that a country’s culture can be transformed by democratic experiences. They note that, in the past, a number of democratic regimes have developed a culture that is supportive of democracy, and that this may be a crucial factor in the success of democratic transitions. The vast diversity of the conditions under which democratization takes place means that it is difficult to generalize about the factors that are most important. But there is broad agreement that a variety of conditions are essential for the process to succeed, such as a high degree of civil-society activism, the availability of political alternatives, and a sense of popular ownership of the government. Also essential is the presence of a level of trust and tolerance that makes it possible for different groups to cooperate in a democratic environment.