What Is Democratisation?
Democratisation is the process through which a country changes from authoritarianism to some form of democracy. There is considerable debate about what enables this, with emphasis placed on the economic, social and cultural factors which promote or hinder the process. There are also differences of opinion about the nature of democracy itself, with some scholars insisting that it is essential for a democratic state to be inclusive and pluralistic in its approach to power.
Nevertheless, there is general agreement that civil-society changes are the prerequisites for a country to become democratised. These may be slow, incremental, and evolutionary, as in Great Britain’s progress from an absolute monarchy to one of the world’s most enduring democracies, or they may be revolutionaries. What is essential, though, is that these changes are accompanied by a certain level of political and social maturation in the society as a whole, in order to ensure that the new institutions and practices do not clash with traditional referents for social identity and beliefs about what constitutes the common good.
Once such a culture exists, there are a number of additional conditions that are thought to be necessary for the success of democracy. These include a tolerance for diversity, the belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy, and a respect for freedom and equality. Scholars have also referred to this collection of attitudes and values as a ‘democratic culture’.
There is a further requirement that democratic governments must be willing to settle disputes through democracy, rather than through force. This has led to the development of a set of ‘democratic benchmarks’ which are used to test whether a government is genuinely democratic or simply uses the term as a marketing device. The benchmarks are designed to ensure that the governments of the emerging democracies recognise the rights and needs of minorities, as well as the need for the rule of law.
Finally, there is a requirement that democracy must be representative, which in turn requires that people are informed about the issues at hand and can participate in democratic decision making. This is why civic engagement is so important; it can help to inform people about the issues that affect them, as well as providing a forum through which they can express their views.
In the advanced industrialised democracies, this usually means getting involved in groups that campaign for policies that aid democratisation. In the developing world, this may mean joining a local environmental group or protesting against war or corporate exploitation. However, in both cases, it is essential that citizens engage with their elected representatives and other politicians to make their voice heard, both when a country is on the verge of becoming democratic, and once they have established stable democracies. This will allow representatives to keep up with and respond to the public’s social concerns.
Democratisation is the process through which a country changes from authoritarianism to some form of democracy. There is considerable debate about what enables this, with emphasis placed on the economic, social and cultural factors which promote or hinder the process. There are also differences of opinion about the nature of democracy itself, with some scholars insisting that it is essential for a democratic state to be inclusive and pluralistic in its approach to power. Nevertheless, there is general agreement that civil-society changes are the prerequisites for a country to become democratised. These may be slow, incremental, and evolutionary, as in Great Britain’s progress from an absolute monarchy to one of the world’s most enduring democracies, or they may be revolutionaries. What is essential, though, is that these changes are accompanied by a certain level of political and social maturation in the society as a whole, in order to ensure that the new institutions and practices do not clash with traditional referents for social identity and beliefs about what constitutes the common good. Once such a culture exists, there are a number of additional conditions that are thought to be necessary for the success of democracy. These include a tolerance for diversity, the belief that other citizens are basically trustworthy, and a respect for freedom and equality. Scholars have also referred to this collection of attitudes and values as a ‘democratic culture’. There is a further requirement that democratic governments must be willing to settle disputes through democracy, rather than through force. This has led to the development of a set of ‘democratic benchmarks’ which are used to test whether a government is genuinely democratic or simply uses the term as a marketing device. The benchmarks are designed to ensure that the governments of the emerging democracies recognise the rights and needs of minorities, as well as the need for the rule of law. Finally, there is a requirement that democracy must be representative, which in turn requires that people are informed about the issues at hand and can participate in democratic decision making. This is why civic engagement is so important; it can help to inform people about the issues that affect them, as well as providing a forum through which they can express their views. In the advanced industrialised democracies, this usually means getting involved in groups that campaign for policies that aid democratisation. In the developing world, this may mean joining a local environmental group or protesting against war or corporate exploitation. However, in both cases, it is essential that citizens engage with their elected representatives and other politicians to make their voice heard, both when a country is on the verge of becoming democratic, and once they have established stable democracies. This will allow representatives to keep up with and respond to the public’s social concerns.