Understanding the Process of Democracy
Democratisation is the process of establishing democratic political systems. This includes free and fair elections, a functioning civil society, a press that can freely investigate and report on government activities, and a legal system that upholds human rights. It is a dynamic and ongoing process that takes place across the globe. Democratisation is not a linear process; it can be successful or fail, and may go through various phases.
Different countries have different historical, social, and economic contexts that can shape the pace and intensity of democratisation. Understanding these factors can help us cultivate a more comprehensive perspective on the world’s democratisation processes. This understanding will facilitate deeper engagement with the democracy-building principles of our work in support of local communities.
Moreover, a more complete understanding of the complexities of democratisation is essential for those working to promote and sustain democracy internationally. As such, it is important to understand the broad theories that have emerged on the subject. In particular, understanding the role of education in democratisation is essential, as it has been shown to be one of the most powerful determinants of a country’s ability to consolidate a democracy.
There are a multitude of social, economic, and even political factors that can support or hinder a nation’s democratisation journey. These factors can be global or domestic, and can affect the process both individually and cumulatively.
For example, the spread of democracy has been accelerated by international pressure on states that perpetrate human rights abuses, such as Pinochet’s regime in Chile and the apartheid regime in South Africa. Furthermore, the emergence of nonviolent resistance movements like Solidarity and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia demonstrate how domestic and external forces can catalyze a transition to democracy.
The wave of democratisation that swept the globe after the 1970s forced drastic revisions to this traditional view. It was realised that many countries that had never before experienced democracy could now achieve it, and the notion that conditions must exist for a country to be considered “democratic” was abandoned in favour of one where democratisation is an ongoing, dynamic process that continues to evolve, and has no set end point.
The democratisation process has been driven by the desire for more equality, autonomy and self-determination. This desire has been expressed through a range of movements, from the so-called Arab Spring to student protests in Europe. In the latter case, the youth is leading the way in expressing dissatisfaction with existing governments and a desire to be more engaged. As such, it is imperative that youth are able to express their opinions and participate in democracy at all levels. This can be facilitated by providing access to education and the freedom of expression that allows individuals to think what they want, discuss these thoughts with others, and present them in a public forum. This is a fundamental tenet of democracy. A new branch of democratisation studies has emerged called “consolidology” which examines the relationship between democratic consolidation and the quality of the rule of law and treatment of minorities.
Democratisation is the process of establishing democratic political systems. This includes free and fair elections, a functioning civil society, a press that can freely investigate and report on government activities, and a legal system that upholds human rights. It is a dynamic and ongoing process that takes place across the globe. Democratisation is not a linear process; it can be successful or fail, and may go through various phases. Different countries have different historical, social, and economic contexts that can shape the pace and intensity of democratisation. Understanding these factors can help us cultivate a more comprehensive perspective on the world’s democratisation processes. This understanding will facilitate deeper engagement with the democracy-building principles of our work in support of local communities. Moreover, a more complete understanding of the complexities of democratisation is essential for those working to promote and sustain democracy internationally. As such, it is important to understand the broad theories that have emerged on the subject. In particular, understanding the role of education in democratisation is essential, as it has been shown to be one of the most powerful determinants of a country’s ability to consolidate a democracy. There are a multitude of social, economic, and even political factors that can support or hinder a nation’s democratisation journey. These factors can be global or domestic, and can affect the process both individually and cumulatively. For example, the spread of democracy has been accelerated by international pressure on states that perpetrate human rights abuses, such as Pinochet’s regime in Chile and the apartheid regime in South Africa. Furthermore, the emergence of nonviolent resistance movements like Solidarity and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia demonstrate how domestic and external forces can catalyze a transition to democracy. The wave of democratisation that swept the globe after the 1970s forced drastic revisions to this traditional view. It was realised that many countries that had never before experienced democracy could now achieve it, and the notion that conditions must exist for a country to be considered “democratic” was abandoned in favour of one where democratisation is an ongoing, dynamic process that continues to evolve, and has no set end point. The democratisation process has been driven by the desire for more equality, autonomy and self-determination. This desire has been expressed through a range of movements, from the so-called Arab Spring to student protests in Europe. In the latter case, the youth is leading the way in expressing dissatisfaction with existing governments and a desire to be more engaged. As such, it is imperative that youth are able to express their opinions and participate in democracy at all levels. This can be facilitated by providing access to education and the freedom of expression that allows individuals to think what they want, discuss these thoughts with others, and present them in a public forum. This is a fundamental tenet of democracy. A new branch of democratisation studies has emerged called “consolidology” which examines the relationship between democratic consolidation and the quality of the rule of law and treatment of minorities.