Classifying Countries:

Liberal Democracies, Semi-Democracies, and Authoritarian

Systems

What do we expect to find in a democracy?

• Inclusiveness– all or almost all of the adult population entitled

to vote

• Elections– free and fair elections -- elections with choice

• competition

Dimensions of liberal democracy:

Hi

Public

Contestation

lo

hi lo

Inclusiveness

Mexico before 2000:

– constitution– some restrictions on political rights– some competition– elections, but not entirely free and fair

elections– dominance of the PRI (Party of Institutional

Revolution)

Two transitions and their outcomes:

• The (former) Soviet Union

• The People’s Republic of China

Soviet Union:

• Gorbachev’ s attempt to reform the system in the 1980s– Glasnost– Perestroika

• Increasing divisions

• Collapse and break-up

• Democratization of former Soviet republics?

The People’s Republic of China

• Deng Xiao Ping and China after Mao

• Tiananmen Square – 1989

• The PRC since 1989– Shift toward capitalism

• End of state controls, iron rice bowl

– Retention of party and state controls

Nigeria:

• First Republic: parliamentary system, 1961-1966

• civil war blocking Biafran secession, 1966-1969

• military rule:– General Gowan, 1969-

1975General

– Obasanjo, 1975/6-1979

• Second Republic: presidential system from 1979-1983

• Military governments from 1983-1993– General Babangida– General Abacha

• Redemocratization in 1993 under Obasanjo