Goal – To Understand democracy – its required characteristics, preconditions for democratization and consolidationTo understand potential problems with democracy, potential solutions, and to evaluate the transition paradigm and its critics

1. With your partner develop a comprehensive definition and explanation of democracy (its different manifestations) and democratization. a) What are the inherent contradictions within democracy as a type?b) Why may democracy work in some countries and not in others?c) Why may democracy take very different forms in different countries?

2. Describe the transition model of democratization. What are the conditions necessary for a nation-state to transition from a non-democracy to close to a substantive democracy? Why are these necessary?

3. With a small group discuss Carothers and the end of the transition paradigm.a. Identify Carothers’ thesis regarding the transition paradigmb. Identify the evidence he presents that supports his thesisc. Evaluate if the evidence and arguments are convincingd. Draw a conclusion about the democratization process, its method and

its historical development4. Intro to Wildavsky

AP Comp Day 13 – democracy?

Econ Reading?

For a system to be typed as having transitioned from authoritarianism through the transitional democracy types to being a consolidated democracy, the system must have:

1. met the five conditions of democracya) Free fair electionsb) Freedom of political assemblyc) Regime has accountability based on fixed, knowable,

transparent proceduresd) Civil and political rights

e) Independent judiciary 2. Been in existence for some kind of length of time

3. Democratic practices that have become deeply ingrained and the five conditions have been met relatively consistently

Kesselman - Preconditions for Kesselman - Preconditions for consolidationconsolidation

Authoritarian

Transitional Democracies

Electoral authoritarian Illiberal procedural

Substantive D

5 Assumptions about Transition 5 Assumptions about Transition processprocess

1. If a country is moving away from authoritarianism, it therefore msut be moving TO democracy

2. There are three distinct phases of transitions1 – opening2 – breakthrough3 – consolidation

3. Elections are the key determining event that leads the breakthrough into the 3rd phase

4. The underlying factors of society, economy, culture and history will have very little impact

5. Democracy would lead to state-building which would enforce democracy, but a functioning state was not important

4. Why might democratization slow, cease or reverse?

a. Modernization increases value of gov’t action, leading to corruption

b. Complacency of citizens

c. Rulers change rules to freeze out opposition

d. Non-elected officials use their clout to control elected officials

e. Modernization leads to critical mass of relative deprivation

f. Crisis leading to demagoguery

Political Culture QuestionsPolitical Culture Questions

• How does political culture develop?• How do people choose their political

cultural propensities?

• How do people choose their political propensities?Who am I? – part of a group or an individualWhat shall I do? – follow a set of strict rules or have very few

rules to followOnce these questions are answered, we can determine one of

four main cultures: Fatalistic, Hierarchic, Egalitarian, Individualistic

Fatalists –people cannot control their own lives as less connected indies because the rules are imposed, thus no preferences what will be will be

Hierarchist – strong bonds put the group over the indie, justifying strict rules and inequality b/c it is more effective for supporting the group

Individualist – self-regulated competition and cooperation amongst adults seeking opportunities to be different

Egalitarian – voluntary strong association with a group, the group works because everyone is equal and is willing to work together as equals

Follow a bunch of

rules.

What shall I

do?

Follow few rules

Who am I ?An individual w/ weak group connections

A member of a group with strong group connections