DEMOCRATIZATION

1. DEMOCRATIZATION

2. Presentation Outline • Review of characteristics of authoritarian and democratic regimes • Procedural Democracy • Substantive Democracy • Preconditions for democratization • 3 historical waves of democratization • Top down democratization • Bottom up democratization • Global trends in democratization

3. 1) What differentiates democratic regimes from authoritarian regimes?

4. 2) Procedural Democracy • Democracies which appear democratic: (competitive elections, universal suffrage) • Often called ‘illiberal democracies’ Democratic deficits: • But civil liberties and rights are usually restricted • Often the media access for opposition parties is restricted • Political opponents may be imprisoned without a fair trial • Russia and Nigeria are good examples

5. What’s the difference between a procedural democracy and an authoritarian regime? • A procedural or ‘illiberal democracy’ is still a democracy “on paper.” • Procedural democracies have the potential to become ‘liberal democracies’ • Authoritarian regimes are structurally undemocratic • The only way an authoritarian regime to become democratic is for regime change to take place: often through revolution

6. 3) Substantive Democracy • These are democracies which have competitive, fair elections and full civil liberties and rights • The rule of law is respected • Democracy has consolidated meaning elites and citizens accept the ‘rules of democracy’ • Often called liberal democracies • The U.K., U.S., Canada, and Japan are good examples • Mexico is working to become a substantive democracy

7. 4) Preconditions for democratization • The presence of a robust civil society • Consolidation- elites and citizens respect the ‘rules of the game’- respect for the rule of law • Strong and stable economy • A democratic environment- international support, regional support for democracy It’s hard to be a democracy when all your neighbors are authoritarian!

8. 5) 3 Waves of Democratization 1780 1900 1945 1989 2000-present

9. 1st wave of democratization 1st wave began in the 18th and 19th centuries in industrialized Western states such as Britain, the United States and France Democracy occurred here first because the existing preconditions were there: wealthy, stable economy, educated population, citizen demand for greater influence

10. U.S. Constitution-1789 “We the People” “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” THOMAS JEFFERSON, Declaration of Independence

11. 2nd wave of democratization • Occurred after World War II in Europe and in decolonized Asia and Africa • U.S. occupation of Germany and Japan introduced (imposed?) democracy • Germany, Japan, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, Nigeria and later South Korea, and India are examples

12. 3rd wave of democratization • Occurred after the collapse of the East Bloc and Soviet Union in the 1989-1991 period • This included Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Serbia, and Mongolia

13. End of Communism in Romania. A man stands on top of a statue of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, 1989

14. 6) Top down democratization • Democracy is imposed by leaders and policies • Russia is a great example- Gorbachev introduced democratic reforms; Yeltsin continued and went even further • Foreign occupation can also impose democracy as was the case after WWII in U.S. occupied Germany and Japan • Foreign influence and pressure can introduce democracy- S. Korea went from a military dictatorship to a democracy

15. Democratization in Russia: top down- Yeltsin proclaims democratic reforms

16. 7) Bottom up democratization • When the citizens demand democracy- either through reforms or revolution • Grass roots • 1989 Tiananmen Square student demonstrations were a good example- but one which failed • Poland’s solidarity movement in the early 1980s led to a call for more democracy • The East Germans essentially overthrew their regime in a bloodless revolution- protesting a lack of freedoms

17. 1989 East Germany-Berlin WallBottom-up democratization

18. 8) Democratization as a world trend • Most of the states in the world are now democracies, although many are procedural democracies • In 1945 only 10% of the world’s states were democracies • The worldwide trend since the end of WWII has led to more democratization • Even authoritarian states such as Iran and China have introduced some democratic elements such as competitive elections in Iran, and village elections in China

19. Map of the world’s democracies (in blue)

20. Levels of Democratization. Light colors represent the most democratic states. Dark colors represent the most authoritarian states.

23. Throughout the 80s and 90s many regimes changed and became democracies- especially in S. America