Various Theories of Democracisation
The word democratisation is often used to refer to the structural transition of a government from an authoritarian regime to one that has substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction. Various theories of democratisation have been developed, which are concerned with the nature of conditions that promote or hinder it. These have ranged from economic and political to cultural and international. Despite differences in emphasis, many theorists agree that a variety of factors can play a role. These can include the extent to which a country is industrialized, whether it has oil, the strength of its middle class and even the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
A common view is that the development of democracy requires a certain level of social and political maturation and the capacity to grasp new democratic ideas, values and practices as not threatening but rather complementary to their traditional referents of cultural identity and beliefs as to what constitutes the ‘common good’. Without this level of development, any attempt at democratisation from within or outside may produce little more than an unsustainable procedural democracy.
Some theorists have argued that economic development is a key factor in democratization, as it allows people to participate in democratic processes and demands that governments be transparent and accountable. However, this has been questioned in the case of rich countries with large middle classes that continue to support authoritarian regimes for ideological reasons or because they have economic interests at stake.
Other theorists have argued that democracy is most compatible with societies that are religiously pluralistic and have a tradition of civic engagement in civil society, including volunteerism. However, there is disagreement over the extent to which this can be induced through civil society institutions and the degree of tolerance and trust that would exist in such a society.
There has also been considerable debate over whether democracy is a universal concept. While the number of democracies has quadrupled since the 1970s, not all of them are regarded as meeting the criteria of a liberal democracy. The Muslim Middle East is one example of a region where attempts at democratisation have been repeatedly successful, but the resulting democracies still fail to meet liberal democratic norms.
Many political scientists have emphasized the importance of encouraging a process of democratisation, particularly in societies which are experiencing intractable conflict. In these situations, a negotiated settlement that includes democracy and other elements can lead to sustainable peace and creates the foundation for cooperation and democratic governance. This is an approach which has been used to achieve peace in the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia, and elsewhere. In addition, some have argued that it can be an important component of conflict-resolution strategies in the United States and other countries. This has been referred to as a democratic peace strategy.
The word democratisation is often used to refer to the structural transition of a government from an authoritarian regime to one that has substantive political changes moving in a democratic direction. Various theories of democratisation have been developed, which are concerned with the nature of conditions that promote or hinder it. These have ranged from economic and political to cultural and international. Despite differences in emphasis, many theorists agree that a variety of factors can play a role. These can include the extent to which a country is industrialized, whether it has oil, the strength of its middle class and even the compatibility of Islam with democracy. A common view is that the development of democracy requires a certain level of social and political maturation and the capacity to grasp new democratic ideas, values and practices as not threatening but rather complementary to their traditional referents of cultural identity and beliefs as to what constitutes the ‘common good’. Without this level of development, any attempt at democratisation from within or outside may produce little more than an unsustainable procedural democracy. Some theorists have argued that economic development is a key factor in democratization, as it allows people to participate in democratic processes and demands that governments be transparent and accountable. However, this has been questioned in the case of rich countries with large middle classes that continue to support authoritarian regimes for ideological reasons or because they have economic interests at stake. Other theorists have argued that democracy is most compatible with societies that are religiously pluralistic and have a tradition of civic engagement in civil society, including volunteerism. However, there is disagreement over the extent to which this can be induced through civil society institutions and the degree of tolerance and trust that would exist in such a society. There has also been considerable debate over whether democracy is a universal concept. While the number of democracies has quadrupled since the 1970s, not all of them are regarded as meeting the criteria of a liberal democracy. The Muslim Middle East is one example of a region where attempts at democratisation have been repeatedly successful, but the resulting democracies still fail to meet liberal democratic norms. Many political scientists have emphasized the importance of encouraging a process of democratisation, particularly in societies which are experiencing intractable conflict. In these situations, a negotiated settlement that includes democracy and other elements can lead to sustainable peace and creates the foundation for cooperation and democratic governance. This is an approach which has been used to achieve peace in the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia, and elsewhere. In addition, some have argued that it can be an important component of conflict-resolution strategies in the United States and other countries. This has been referred to as a democratic peace strategy.