3.2: Democratization
3.2.1: What Causes Democratization?
Read this article. Democratization (i.e., a transition to democracy) is 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. A democratic transition involves the negotiation and acceptance of democratic rules and procedures; the building or restructuring of political, social, and economic institutions; and the channeling of political competition along democratic lines. An essential component of this transition is deciding on a new constitution that reflects political, religious, cultural, and economic realities within the society and its regional environment.
3.2.2: Economic Development and Democracy
Read this report, which presents research findings on the linkages between democratic governance and sustained development in addition to the role of the U.N. in facilitating both. While reading the report, reflect on how democracy building serves to advance development in specific instances.
3.2.3: The Rise of the Democratic State and the "Third Wave"
Read this article on the political development of democracy in Latin America. In 1991 political scientist Samuel Huntington defined three "waves" of democratization that have taken place throughout history. The first wave brought democracy to Western Europe and Northern America in the 19th century. It was followed by a rise of dictatorships during the years between World War II and World War II. The second wave began after World War II, but lost steam between 1962 and the mid-1970s. The latest wave began in 1974 and included the historic democratic transitions in Latin America in the 1980s, in addition to Asian Pacific countries and Eastern European after the fall of the Soviet Union.
3.2.4: Democracies Today: The Freedom House Index
Bryant Edward Harden's "Conceptualising and Assessing the State of Democracy in the World Today" URL
Read this article. The author attempts to assess the state of democracy worldwide through an examination of four concepts of democracy.
3.2.5: Case Study: The Arab Spring
Watch this discussion of the Arab Spring and prospects for democracy in the Middle East. What do you believe are the long-term prospects for sustained democracy in this region?