POL 1000 Lecture 13 Democracy Democratization Sean Clark

POL 1000 – Lecture 13: Democracy & Democratization Sean Clark Lecturer, Memorial University Doctoral Fellow, CFPS Fall Session, 2011

Lecture Arc § 1. Democracy. § 2. Origins. § 3. The Three Pillars. § Participation. § Competition. § Liberty. § 4. Democratization Theory. § 5. Transition: Potential & Pitfalls.

Democracy § Are different normative conclusions re democracy: § Good (permits personal freedom). § Bad (elites now have excuse; plus, danger of abuse by majority & popular-but-stupid policies). § I. e. Athens voted for invasion of Syracuse, condemned Socrates to death, suffered successive coups by oligarchs, & ultimately succumbed to undemocratic Macedonia—both Aristotle & Polybius feared democ led to mob rule. . § Collectivists: is a danger to social equality. § Preference for democracy has changed over time. § Pre-French Revolution: deeply skeptical. § Remember Athenians at Syracuse (415 -413 BC)? Even Plato & Aristotle sympathized w Spartan model. § Post: 3 ‘waves’ (Huntington). § 1828 -1926 (revolutions of 1848 crucial: great democ ambition put down by iron heel of monarchies). Steady growth in democ #s, followed by inter-war collapse (seen as weak). § 1945 -’ 62: propelled by decolonization in Africa & Asia, though their collapse & rise of Latin Amer military = end. Only 36 democs by ’ 75 (when Franco stepped down). § 1974 -today (peak in 1989). Collapsed autocracies, but democ now slowing. § Post-1989 euphoria on the decline? § Russian democracy has retreated from ‘ 90 s. Belrus arguably never achieved it at al. § 2008 Recession & Chinese growth = again question its utility.

The Basic Concepts § Fundamental precepts found in Greek roots: Demos & kratia (rule by the people). § Power to reside w the people. At heart, is ability to (peacefully) throw a govt out of office (basic threshold is govts lose). § Nie et al: democ reqs relatively little punitive or physical coercion for legitimacy -majority is compliant (p 124 Midlarksy). § Sen ‘ 81: major 20 th. C famines have occurred only in auth states (p 125 Midlarsky). § Demands of obedience means state needs to be everywhere. § Despotism = can squeeze subjects rather than increase factor productivity (in many ways, is easier to do). § Direct (public governs itself) vs indirect (representative or delegative). § Either choose the policies ourselves (state & society become one), or select someone to do so on our behalf.

Origins § Development = pol struggles = need pol organization. § Ag Rev = move from small tribes (generally communal) to cities of thousands. First cities about 5000 BC. 1 st empires in Egypt 30000 BC, China 2000 BC. § Prob: consensus is not easy to achieve in large groups. § More pop = can’t include everyone in decision-making. § § 1500 b. C: about 600 k autonomous communities on earth, not exceeding 100 people. “Two men on a desert island can bargain or fight, but they cannot politik; when the waves wash up a third, however, politics begins. ” (Huntington, in Betts p 490). § § § Early (& most common response)? Force. § § Yet coercion is inefficient (who wants just orders? ). Democracy: offers to give public a stake in politics. § Gain complicity, loyalty, adherence w/o resort to force. Athens (direct). § ‘Polis’ diff than monarchies & aristocs (citizens, not subjects) that came before. Ran from 550 BC to conquest by Philip in 338 BC. § § § Growing wealth only exacerbates. § Thus no longer easy to maintain political agreement. Athens is ~size of Hong Kong. 40, 000 citizens (though rarely more than 50% attdn). Met ~40 times/yr. Juries also direct democ (i. e. one that condemned Socrates was 1, 000 strong). Direct democracy (& widespread franchise) = great fighting power (but also poor decisions—i. e. Syracuse debacle & execution of Socrates). § (though oligarchs would often keep final say). Roman republicanism (indirect). § § Separation of powers. Delegates represent public’s wishes (though franchise severely ltd). § Madison & Hamilton: resps to dampen the “passions” of the public (Fedist Papers). § Athens votes itself into disastrous war, Roman Republic falls to Caesar. § § Democratic ideals disappear until 1200 s England & modern (liberal) democracy. § Magna Carta (1215): all ‘freemen’ are = under the law. § § Estabs supremacy of ‘rule of law’ (law has sovty, not an individual). 1642 Civil War settles balance. § Deserve due process (though ltd to aristocrats). § Charles I executed by Parliamentary forces. Followed by 1689 Bill of Rights.

Why England? § Early unification & island geography = is a relatively calm place. § Pretenders not constantly fighting for the throne. § Invaders have to cross the English Channel. § Island = intl trade = (easy) port taxes & tariffs, plus flourishing (commercial) middle class. . § No need for stifling tax bureaucracy. § Avoids garrisoning a massive army & an intrusive state. § Decentralization of power = notions of civil liberty flourish. § Process, however, was extremely incremental. § From origins in 1200 s, not widespread (male) franchise until 1800 s; women not until early 1900 s. § Lesson: democracy is no historical accident. § Is a political idea tied to specific circumstances. § Centrality of individual in politics first flourished when supported by strong middle class & opposed only by limited state.

Liberal Democracy § Hallmarks of liberal (vs illiberal) democracy: participation, competition, & liberty. § All 3 must be institutionalized to meet modern standard. § Govt must feel bound. Public must demand. § Illiberal democracy: when constitution is ‘democratic’ but practical commitment is lacking. § Both govt & public can be apathetic towards the 3 pillars. § 1. Participation (‘popular sovty’: authority flows from the ruled to the rulers). § Open participation in elections is key. Electoral choice needs to be genuine. § Express popular will & check authorities. § Right to vote secretly & be free from coercion is essential. § Liberal democracies let all citizens get involved in the process. § 2. Competition. § Desire open competition btn alternatives for leadership. § Remember, losing is good. Demonstrates that power is not monopolized. § Parties are handy in this process (are found virtually everywhere). § Give structure (yet avoid unanimity). Make competition amongst clear platforms possible. § Permit evaluation of leaders (make accountable to promises). § From unified sovereignty to separation of powers (one single actor has all powers, & thus easy path to abuse). § Thus divide, to varying degrees, between: § Executive (does PM or Pres have strength to keep the trains running? ). § Legislature (is leg indp? Able to voice concerns of those even outside govt? ). § Even Westminster parliamentary system supporters want parliament to stand up to PM & cab. § Judiciary (power of courts able to strike down the laws most basic constitutions & beliefs determine as unjust? ).

Hallmarks, Cont. § 3. Liberty. § Civil rights & liberties must be both enshrined in law & upheld. § Common examples: § Free speech & movement, § Right to religious beliefs, § Right of public assembly & organization, § Equal treatment under law, § Prevention of inhumane punishment, § Right to privacy, § Right to choose one’s own government. § Is significant variance from country to country. § Ie Germany’s anti-democracy restrictions. § UK: illegal to broadcast statements from Irish terrorists. § ‘ 93 Northern Ireland Act: empowered UK mil to take warrantless searches of civ homes, temporarily detain people w/o charge, & question suspects. § Martin ‘ 06 p 512 -3: nearly 250 k warrantless searches conducted. § Moreover, these rights are not generally seen as absolute. They have always been subject to restrictions on time & place. § I. e. Canada: foreigners can live here, but not vote w/o citizenship. § ’ 11 Occupy Wall Street movt: can assemble, but only for so long. § Coyne: “No defensible interpretation of freedom of assembly allows you to occupy any property you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like. ” § Civil Society. § Again, private association is fuel of democracy (can be no liberty w/o public vibrancy).

Democratization Theory § 1. Modernization Theory (i. e. Lipset ‘ 59). § Argmt: it’s a matter of wealth. § Evidence: West is rich & democ, while Latin America is poor & autocratic. § Thus boost development & democ will spring up in response. § 2. Structural Theory (i. e. Moore ‘ 66). § Argmt: democracy is only possible if there is a strong & well-organized middle class. § Structures in society must permit democ to take hold, or else autocracy will remain. § If powerful elites can block, or do not rely on bourgeoise’s commercial success, democ will fail.

Transitions § It is not easy changing a political system. § Actors in a transition: § W/in the old regime: hardliners (‘standpatters’) who oppose reform, & softliners (willing to negotiate). § W/in the opposition: radicals (favour a clean break, no compromise), & moderates (respect difficulties facing old rulers, & willing to compromise). § Takes place w either reform (i. e. Mexico) or rupture (i. e. East Germany). § Reduction vs. elimination of state power. § Need some rule of law to permit stability & growth, lest there be chaos (i. e. post USSR). § Economic reform. § Marketization (replace management boards w forces of demand & supply) § Privatization of state property. § Problem of inequitable distribution. § Uncertainty surrounds how to transition. § Mechanics. § Give property to everyone, or sell to highest bidder? § Pace. § Sachs & ‘shock therapy’? § Considerable turmoil followed. § Inflation, unemployment, poverty rife.

Transitions, II § Identity. § Reassertion of traditional identities. § Greek Orthodox & Islam make strong comebacks in post USSR. § Ethnic & national identities. § Can bring a country together--but also tear it apart. § Reversal of gender equality. § Communists included women in workforce & provided social benefits (ie daycare & medical access). § Economic reforms = cut back on social safety net. § Conservative elements attack communist-era practices (ie abortions). § Results have been varied. § Czech & Poland on track. § Where is Russia headed to today? Belarus?

Art of Democratization § Nigerian elections notoriously corrupt. § I. e. ‘Marvin Gaye’ on voter lists & rampant ballot stuffing. § ‘ 11: spent $580 mil (incl aid) to fingerprint all 73. 5 mil voters. § Ltd polling booths to 1 hr (to limit multiple voting). § Officials tallied votes in front of public. § Indp monitors tabulated results instantly w cell phones.

Post-Industrial Democracies § Service & high-end manufacturing sectors. § Integration vs. devolution. § Metrics (civil & political rights are correlated): § § § Democracy. Economics. Freedom. Political participation. Freedom (capitalism) vs. Equality (redistribution). § Gini. § Sovereignty challenges. § Supranational. § Countervailing forces.