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What Does Democracy Mean?

What Does Democracy Mean?. What Does It Mean to You?. Roots – demokratia Greek and middle French democratie Could roots inform us about its world-wide applicability?. Are There Minimum Standards of Democracy?. Can we really define democracy? Let’s try and make a list, shall we?

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What Does Democracy Mean?

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  1. What Does Democracy Mean?

  2. What Does It Mean to You? • Roots – demokratia Greek and middle French democratie • Could roots inform us about its world-wide applicability?

  3. Are There Minimum Standards of Democracy? • Can we really define democracy? • Let’s try and make a list, shall we? • Definition • Elements • Processes • Necessary vs. sufficient conditions • Democratization • Democratic consolidation

  4. Waves of Democracy • Or “democratization” - courtesy of Samuel P. Huntington • 1st wave – flawed, slow, Western-based • 2nd wave – post-WW II - 30+ countries • 3rd wave – mid-1970’s – 70+ countries • Need two successive peaceful transfers of power

  5. Is the 3rd Wave Dead? • Rise of authoritarianism • War on terrorism • Illiberal democracies (aka electoral or partial democracies) • Substantive v. procedural democracies • Middle East

  6. “America’s allies in the Middle East are autocratic, corrupt and heavy-handed. But, they are still more liberal, tolerant and pluralist than what would likely replace them (w/ democratic elections.) If elections had been last month (Nov. 2001) in Saudi Arabia with King Faud and Osama bin Laden on the ballot, I would not bet too heavily on His Royal Highness’ fortunes. Fareed Zakaria, How to Save the Arab World, Newsweek, Dec. 24, 2001

  7. And then, there’s Iraq… Main Sunni party pulls out of Iraqi electionIraq's largest mainstream Sunni Muslim party pulled out of the election race yesterday, saying the violence plaguing areas north and west of Baghdad made a "free and fair vote" on January 30 impossible. The GuardianTuesday December 28, 2004

  8. How Does Democracy Develop? • Organically? • The “Good” – eastern Europe post-Soviet period, EU, NATO, CSCE • The “Bad” – China’s attempt at free markets without human rights emphasis • The “Ugly” – Russia, too much, too fast, regression as Putin increases control

  9. Can Democracy Be an “Imposed Solution?” • Can you “import” a value or political system? • Religion – Crusades • Economics/Culture – Colonialism • Political – Spread of democracy – Bush Doctrine, War on Terrorism • Arab Spring • Can democracy be influence through incentives e.g. trade and aid? EU for instance…

  10. America’s History of Democratization • Pre-revolutionary – “Shining City on the Hill” • Revolution/Founding – “Empire of Liberty” • Jacksonian Era – Christianizing “savages” • Imperial America – Cuba, Philippines • Wilsonian Internationalism – “Making the world safe for democracy” • Cold War Liberalism – Fighting Communism • Post-imperial or neo-imperial – War on Terrorism

  11. Do Democracy and Free Markets Go Hand In Hand? • Not according to Amy Chua, author of World on Fire 2003 • Too much democracy too fast is BAD • Need certain conditions for democracy to grow and thrive • Ethnic minorities at risk • Indians in East Africa, Jews in Russia, Han Chinese in the Philippines

  12. Are newly formed democracies at risk? • The Economist’s Intelligence Unit surveyed new democracies in Eastern Europe between 2006 and 2008 finding that their democracy “scores” had decreased. • But no serious trend away from democratic leanings due to globalization. • Economic hard times undermined the government of Latvia – trouble brewing in Ukraine

  13. What About Your Country? • What is the status of democracy in your assigned country? • What elements of democracy does it have? • What elements of democracy does it lack? • Will democracy work or is it just a “Western thang?”

  14. Survey says! • Fully democratized: UK and Mexico • Partially democratized: Russia and Nigeria • Democracy? LOL!: China and Iran (College Board’s AP sourcebook, democratization briefing paper, 2005)

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