DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIZATION

Definitions and Models

Origin and Sources of Democracy (I)
Greek Democracy
 The foundation for the concept of public participation
 Public participation in the affairs of government
 The people were the state.
 The idea of popular sovereignty
Roman Tradition
 The concept of republicanism that emphasized the
separation of powers within a state and the representation
of the public through elected officials.
 Legislative bodies (like a senate)
Origin and Sources of Democracy (II)
Democratic Institutions & Practices in Europe and the U.S.
 In 13th century, English nobles forced King John to sign the
Magna Carta, a document that curbed the rights of the king
and laid the foundation for an early form of legislature.
 The idea that no individual, not even the king, was above the
law.
 The 1642 English Civil War (King Charles I vs. Parliament) in
which the king eventually lost and killed. Monarchy’s attempt
to expand its power failed.
 In 1646, Treaty of Westphalia asserts the right of European
states to choose their own religion, enforcing the notion of
state sovereignty.
 Bill of Rights was passed in England in 1689, establishing
parliamentary supremacy.
 In 1787, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights codify the
separation of powers and civil rights
 Reform Acts in the UK expanded voting rights to much of the
male population during 1832-84.
Direct Democracy
 Democracy as a form of government offering a workable
solution to the fundamental political problem of reaching
collective decisions by peaceful means
 Democracy was defined by Aristotle as ‘each to rule
and be ruled in turn’
 Flaws in Athens’ ‘little democracy’
 Citizenship was restricted to a small elite
 Most citizens were absent from most assembly meetings
 The system was elaborate, time-consuming and expensive
 The principle of self-government did not always lead to
decisive and coherent policy (the lack of a permanent
bureaucracy contributed to ineffective)
Representative Democracy
The principle is not self-rule but elected government
Modern democracy is based on a liberal philosophy
 Constitution—”supreme over all causes”
 The role of the state is restricted by constitution
 A distinction between public and private
Features
 A large size of population, mass literacy, industrialization
 Elite rule (through party competition) as both inevitable
and desirable
 Representative government allows experts to make
decision and limits the popular voice
 Limited government
Definitions of Democracy
Dahl (1971)
 Freedom to form and join organizations
 Freedom of expression
 The right to vote
 Eligibility for public office
 The right of political leaders to compete for
support
 Free and fair elections
Definitions of Democracy
Dahl (2000)
 Effective participation
 Equality in voting
 Gaining enlightened understanding
 Exercising final control over the agenda
 Inclusion of adults
Definitions of Democracy
Schmitter & Karl add requirements
 Elected Leaders must not be subject to veto from
unelected officials
 Elected officials must be able to make binding
decisions without approval of foreign actors
 Not necessarily capitalism or economic freedoms
 Not necessarily more orderly, stable, or consensual
than nondemocracy
Definitions of Democracy
Schmitter & Karl add requirements
 Elected Leaders must not be subject to veto from
unelected officials
 Elected officials must be able to make binding
decisions without approval of foreign actors
 Not necessarily capitalism or economic freedoms
 Not necessarily more orderly, stable, or consensual
than nondemocracy
Dahl: Democracy & Polyarchies
 A theoretical utopia
 Politically advanced countries are called as
“polyarchies”
 Polyarchies have elected officials, free and fair
elections, inclusive suffrage, rights to run for office,
freedom of expression, alternative information and
associational autonomy.
 Those institutions are a major advance in that they
created multiple centers of political power.
Definitions of Democracy (Larry Diamond)
Required institutions for protecting liberal democracy
▪ Constitution ▪Civil society ▪Independent media ▪ Independent
judiciary
Three constant paradoxes related to stability
 Conflict vs. consensus (there must be disagreements & opposition in
order to allow competition, yet not too much disagreement)
 Representativeness vs. governability (governments must be
responsive to constituencies, yet must be able to govern effectively)
 Consent vs. effectiveness
 Democracy <= consent <=legitimacy <= effectiveness <=
unpopular decisions (<= requires or based on)
Definitions of Democracy
Linz & Stepan add the conditions for democracy consolidation
 State must exist
 Transitional phase must be complete
 Official government must have full respect of the law
 Combination of collective rights of nationalities or
minorities—the least conflictual way
Types of Democracy
 Direct democracy
 Illiberal democracy
 Representative democracy
 Liberal democracy
Types of Democracy
 Illiberal Democracy
• Elections, but not free and fair
• Regimes deprive citizens of basic rights and freedoms
 Formal (Procedural) Democracy
• Free and fair elections, with a multi-party system and universal
suffrage, but few other political rights exist
 Liberal Democracy
• Has all the characteristics of formal democracy
• Citizens have civil rights and freedoms that are protected by
rule of law
 Substantive Democracy
• Citizens have equality of political influence and participation
Determinants of Democracy --Robert Barro
 Electoral rights
 Urbanization
 Economic prosperity
 Equal Opportunities for education
 Health
 Upper-level schooling
 Inequality of income and schooling
 Ethnolinguistic fractionalization
 The rule of law
 Colonial history
 Religion
 Civil liberties