Chapter 6: Democracy and Authoritarianism
What are the biggest challenges to contemporary democracy in the US and elsewhere? What are the prospects that democracy will stand up to them?
The four challenges to democracy in the US are inadequate resources, lack of domestic consensus, conflicting policy objectives, and limitations of the U.S. democratic model INADEQUATE RESOURCES: In most cases, the United States does not allocate enough financial assistance to build the political institutions, economic and social environment, and civil society essential for promoting democracy. LACK OF DOMESTIC CONSENSUS: Although in theory most Americans support promoting democracy in foreign countries, democratization in practice has generally failed to engender a lasting commitment, partly because of an overriding preoccupation with domestic concerns. CONFLICTING POLICY OBJECTIVES: Promoting democracy must often compete with other conflicting national interests. LIMITATIONS OF THE U.S. DEMOCRATIC MODEL: Each society has its own historical, social, and economic realities, which mitigate the usefulness of the American model of democracy
What is democratic backsliding?
The gradual decline in the quality of democracy
What is electoral fallacy?
The idea that elections are enough to foster democracy
What is the majoritarian model?
The majority of the citizens decide who will govern
What is indirect/representative democracy?
The most common type and involves the election of representatives
What is transitology?
The name for the study of the process of change from one political regime to another, mainly from authoritarian regimes to democratic ones
What is plurality?
The number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority
What is representation?
A system in which the voices of citizens are represented
What is regime transition?
A transition between two regimes
What is authoritarianism?
The enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
What was the first wave of democracy?
1700-1939 Britain Glorious Revolution of 1688. Parliament deposes old king, new William III agrees to rule with Parliament (parliamentary system); suffrage extended slowly: First to wealthy men, then other men, then to women (1918). Classic gradual process. United States Democracy through revolution, 1775-83. Presidential, federal and separation-of- powers system; suffrage extended slowly: black males after civil war (and later), women after 1919. France Revolution establishes democracy, but repeatedly overthrown (Napoleon, "Bourbon Restoration," etc.). Stable democracy after 1870s. Germany Democracy comes late, and falls apart in the 1930s; Weimar Republic (1919-33), sophisticated proportional representation system collapses gradually.
What was the second wave of democracy?
1945-1970s Victorious countries insist on democracy democratic governments restored or imposed through occupation (West Germany, Austria, Japan); in Soviet sphere, democracy in name only. Solid Consolidation in Many Countries E.g. Western Europe, including Germany, Austria and Italy; Japan; India; Botswana. But also also Failures and Extensive Reversals Many newly independent countries in Africa fail to democratize; turn to authoritarianism in the late 1960s and 1970s, esp. Latin America and Southern Europe.
What is personalized power?
A source of influence and authority a person has over his or her followers
What is democracy promotion?
A strand of foreign policy adopted by governments and international organizations that seek to support the spread of democracy as a political system around the world
What is illiberal democracy?
A governing system in which, although elections take place, citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties
What is state capitalism?
A political system in which the state has control of production and the use of capital
What is democratization?
A process of changing from an authoritarian or totalitarian system of government to a democratic government that is widely regarded by the population and the global community as legitimate and permanent
What is populism?
A range of approaches which emphasizes the role of "the people"
What is state intervention?
An economic policy perspective favoring government intervention in the market process to correct the market failures and promote the general welfare of the people
What is emulation?
An effort to match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation
How does a totalitarian government differ from most authoritarian governments?
Citizens are subject to an absolute state authority; complete penetration and control of society by the state, including through terror
What is universal suffrage?
Consists of the right to vote of all adult citizens, regardless of property ownership, income, race, or ethnicity; today a democracy is thought to be synonymous with universal suffrage for citizen 18 and older
What is democracy and what distinguishes common types?
Democracies have three common factors, which are accountability, representation, and universal suffrage There are two varieties of democracy: political institutions and electoral systems.
What are the two important elements to a thriving democracy?
Democracy can take a long time to be consolidated, but then will be durable. But variables closely correlated with democracy hard to strengthen, especially in developing nations or where social and political trust is lacking.
What is liberal democracy?
Democracy run through indirect means, such as elections and representatives
What is presidentialism?
Democracy that elects a president to the executive level of government
What are the three preconditions that have to be met in order for democracy to thrive?
Economic development key Modernization: middle class ("no bourgeoisie, no democracy"), urbanization, education, literacy, etc. Civic culture: consensus and diversity strong norms, open to gradual change
How do people in authoritarian countries have limited freedoms?
Election interference strong Little party competition (if any) Press censored and controlled
What is direct democracy?
Entails regular plebiscites (incl. referendums) to determine policy; direct democracy is rare
What is the issue of state capitalism?
Failures of democracies to sustain promised growth: Economic liberalization in Latin America, Asia, Middle East, Africa delivers uneven, often poor, results Now there is an alternative: state capitalism: Soviet and other failure no longer important as negative demonstration; China offers positive demonstration example: authoritarianism and capitalism are compatible (Dambisa Moyo); China and other powers promote their models in their regions
What is the consensus model?
Focuses on achieving widespread support for government policies
What is parliamentarism?
Governing system with no separation of powers
What is constitutional liberalism?
Government committed to ensuring individual rights and freedoms through constitutional protections
What is democracy?
Government that reflects the will of the people
What is unicameral?
Having a single legislative chamber
What is bicameral?
Having two branches or chambers
What are the two types of representation in democracy?
Indirect democracy and direct democracy
How is the cause of waves of democracy structural?
Large scale economic change; geostrategic shifts
What was the third wave of democracy?
Long wave of peaceful, gradual transitions Southern Europe: Spain (post-Franco, Juan Carlos transition), Portugal and Greece transition from military rule to democracy. Latin America: Mostly peaceful, pacted transitions, largely from military rule, on a continent where democracy had largely broken down in previous decades: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, etc. By 1990s, Latin America (outside of Cuba) almost entirely democratic. Africa: Pacted transition from apartheid in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, other sub-saharan African countries. Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe after 1989, most successful in Central Europe.
What is a civil society?
Networks of social relations and structures that exist independently of the government
What is democratic deficit?
Occurs when ostensibly democratic organizations or institutions fall short of fulfilling the principles of democracy in their practices or operation
What are interest groups?
Organization of individuals with common interests who attempt to influence public policy
How did Russia succeed their authoritarian regimes?
Personalized power: Vladimir Putin (r) Conservatism at home: Harsher rule; sophisticated state intrusion and learning Revanschism abroad: Militarization of conflict; foreign meddling
What is proportional representation?
Political and electrical system under which both majorities and minorities are represented
What are two examples of political institutions regarding the variety of democracy?
Presidential (separation-of-powers) vs. parliamentary systems Federal vs. unitary systems
What makes democracy sustainable over time?
Process theories: Any state can develop and sustain democracy - Get the process right and democracy can prevail. - Reject notion of preconditions. - Emphasizes agency over structure. Important Steps - Liberalization (by government "soft-liners") - Organized societal demands for greater democracy - Pacts between military and political parties (shared power) - Mutual assurances between opposing factions, incl. immunities
What are the three lessons from the first wave of democracy?
Reversals: Democratic states break down in Germany, Italy and other European countries that give way to fascism and communism. Preconditions: Even when certain "preconditions" are met - economic development, wide representation, etc. - democracy may collapse. Subversion: Democracies can be subverted from within, with "democratic" forces using democratic processes to subvert democracy.
How is the cause of waves of democracy spontaneous diffusion?
Revolutions spread to neighboring countries
What are the two types of authoritarian regimes?
Right and left
What are three ways to limit backsliding?
Strengthening preconditions hard Joining democratic international organizations: Demonstrates commitment to core principles; reassures society and partners Effective gatekeeping: Political establishment and civil society exclude cooperation with extremist parties
What are two different causes of the "waves" of democracy?
Structural and spontaneous diffusion
What is accountability?
System of governance in which elected representatives are held accountable for their actions by citizens through regular, free, and fair elections using secret ballots
When are regime transitions (from authoritarianism to democracy, or democracy to authoritarianism) successful?
There must be a general societal consensus that no alternative to democracy exists before the transition to democracy occurs. Democracies must deliver tangible benefits to demonstrate their superiority over nondemocratic systems They must improve economic opportunities, maintain order, and provide an enhanced quality of life for their citizens to obtain legitimacy or acceptance by the people
What is foreign meddling?
To involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation in foreign affairs
Is there a fourth wave of democracy?
Unexpected Revolutions Tunisia, Egypt: revolutions Libya: civil war and international intervention Yemen, Syria, Bahrain: sustained uprisings Saudi Arabia: limited opposition Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco: preemptive reforms Regional Diffusion? Demonstration effects strong (society and state); new social media circumvent state powers ("Twitter" "Facebook" revolutions). But, also hard and preemptive crackdowns in neighboring countries.
What are two examples of electoral systems regarding the variety of democracy?
Unicameral vs. bicameral Plurality vs. proportional representation
What are some examples of antidemocratic acts?
Violating and rewriting constitution; banning organizations; restricting rights for some groups; voter intimidation; use of state organs to delegitimate opposition; toleration and encouragement of violence; curtailment of civil liberties; attacks on media