newton & van deth

Democratic Change and Persistence

  • Democracies exist on a spectrum, from fully democratic to undemocratic.

  • Democratisation: The process of transition to more democratic governments; divided into three waves:

    • First wave: Mid-19th century to 1920s, associated with nation-state expansion.

    • Second wave: Post-WWII to early 1960s, linked to decolonization.

    • Third wave: 1975 to late 20th century, spurred by democratic movements in Latin America and Asia, and the fall of the Soviet Union.

  • Some countries resist or regress from democracy, leading to concepts like illiberal democracy and defective democracies.

The Limits of Democratisation

  • Phases of Democratisation:

    1. Initial Phase: Mobilization against the ruling elite.

    2. Emerging Phase: New democratic arrangements are set up.

    3. Advanced Phase: Focus shifts to performance and meeting public demands.

    4. Consolidation Phase: Institutionalization of democracy and meeting citizens' expectations.

  • Successful democratisation is influenced by factors such as wealth inequality and historical context.

Embedded and Defective Democracies

  • Embedded Democracy: Stable democracies with robust civil rights and institutions.

  • Defective Democracies: Governments with some democratic characteristics but lacking key features; include:

    • Illiberal Democracies: Limited civil liberties.

    • Guarded Democracies: Limited political competition.

  • Variations in democracy can result from historical, social, and political contexts.

Theories of Democratic Change and Persistence

  • Modernisation Theory: Economic and technological changes lead to social shifts that affect democracy.

  • Importance of political culture and citizens’ engagement as essential to democratic survival.

  • Institutional Theories stress the impact of political frameworks on citizen behavior and democratic outcomes.

  • Understanding democratic transitions requires a multi-faceted approach, considering various factors and historical contexts.

Key Conclusions

  • Democratisation is not guaranteed; many factors influence its success or failure.

  • Economic development, political institutions, and citizens' attitudes play crucial roles.

  • The process of establishing and sustaining democracy is complex and varies significantly across countries.