Democracies and Democracy
Democracy is a form of government that provides citizens with rights, liberties and opportunities, and empowers them to govern themselves. It is generally considered the most just, fair and legitimate form of government in the world, although there are arguments to be made that it is not necessarily the best. The concept of democracy was first articulated in the ancient Greek city-states and a wide range of democratic institutions have been used throughout history, including parliamentary democracies, representative assemblies, and popular referenda.
Since the end of World War II, the number of countries that qualify as true democracies has increased by more than fivefold to roughly two-thirds of the world’s states. The most dramatic expansion of democracy has occurred in the “third wave”, a period that began with the overthrow of military dictatorships in Portugal and Spain in the 1970s, and extended to countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This process has been marked by substantial progress toward true democracy, but also by the rise of hybrid regimes combining elements of both democracy and authoritarianism.
In general, the more favourable the conditions for democratization are, the more likely that it will happen. The most common conditions that promote democratisation include education, economic development, and a large middle class. Educated citizens are better equipped to understand political issues and more likely to be interested in politics. They can also serve as a check against authoritarian tendencies by demanding both inclusion and accountability from government. Economic development is generally considered to be necessary for democratization because it allows people to become more politically conscious and more aware of their needs and interests.
A key feature of democracy is the presence of a large and influential middle class. This serves as a moderating force that balances the extremist positions of both the rich and the poor, making it harder for either to impose their will on others. Middle-class pressures for democratization have been important in many countries, from the United States and Britain to Latin America and South Korea. The Soviet Union’s early workers councils are an example of this kind of grouping.
In addition, the experience of Afghanistan and Iraq has reconfirmed a widespread belief that any kind of foreign-induced democratisation will be difficult to sustain once it is established, and that a society must go through certain phases of development to achieve substantive democracy. This includes undergoing pro-democratic civil society changes, achieving procedural democracy and, eventually, constitutional or working democracy. Without this, the democratisation effort is unlikely to be successful, and could even backfire and lead to civil conflict or anarchy. This is a fundamental insight that is important to bear in mind when considering the future of the world’s emerging democracies. It is an idea that can help to guide international interventions designed to support democratisation in the future.
Democracy is a form of government that provides citizens with rights, liberties and opportunities, and empowers them to govern themselves. It is generally considered the most just, fair and legitimate form of government in the world, although there are arguments to be made that it is not necessarily the best. The concept of democracy was first articulated in the ancient Greek city-states and a wide range of democratic institutions have been used throughout history, including parliamentary democracies, representative assemblies, and popular referenda. Since the end of World War II, the number of countries that qualify as true democracies has increased by more than fivefold to roughly two-thirds of the world’s states. The most dramatic expansion of democracy has occurred in the “third wave”, a period that began with the overthrow of military dictatorships in Portugal and Spain in the 1970s, and extended to countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This process has been marked by substantial progress toward true democracy, but also by the rise of hybrid regimes combining elements of both democracy and authoritarianism. In general, the more favourable the conditions for democratization are, the more likely that it will happen. The most common conditions that promote democratisation include education, economic development, and a large middle class. Educated citizens are better equipped to understand political issues and more likely to be interested in politics. They can also serve as a check against authoritarian tendencies by demanding both inclusion and accountability from government. Economic development is generally considered to be necessary for democratization because it allows people to become more politically conscious and more aware of their needs and interests. A key feature of democracy is the presence of a large and influential middle class. This serves as a moderating force that balances the extremist positions of both the rich and the poor, making it harder for either to impose their will on others. Middle-class pressures for democratization have been important in many countries, from the United States and Britain to Latin America and South Korea. The Soviet Union’s early workers councils are an example of this kind of grouping. In addition, the experience of Afghanistan and Iraq has reconfirmed a widespread belief that any kind of foreign-induced democratisation will be difficult to sustain once it is established, and that a society must go through certain phases of development to achieve substantive democracy. This includes undergoing pro-democratic civil society changes, achieving procedural democracy and, eventually, constitutional or working democracy. Without this, the democratisation effort is unlikely to be successful, and could even backfire and lead to civil conflict or anarchy. This is a fundamental insight that is important to bear in mind when considering the future of the world’s emerging democracies. It is an idea that can help to guide international interventions designed to support democratisation in the future.