POL 1000 – Lecture 13: Democracy & Democratization

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

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

3. 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 ‘90s. Belrus arguably never achieved it at al. • 2008 Recession & Chinese growth = again question its utility.

4. 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: democreqs relatively little punitive or physical coercion for legitimacy -majority is compliant (p124 Midlarksy). • Sen ‘81: major 20thC famines have occurred only in auth states (p125 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.

5. Origins • Development = pol struggles = need pol organization. • Ag Rev = move from small tribes (generally communal) to cities of thousands. First cities about 5000 BC. 1st empires in Egypt 30000BC, China 2000 BC. • 1500 bC: about 600k 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 p490). • Prob: consensus is not easy to achieve in large groups. • More pop = can’t include everyone in decision-making. • Growing wealth only exacerbates. •  Thus no longer easy to maintain political agreement. • 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. • 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 1200s England. • England & modern (liberal) democracy. • Magna Carta (1215): all ‘freemen’ are = under the law. • Deserve due process (though ltd to aristocrats). • Estabs supremacy of ‘rule of law’ (law has sovty, not an individual). • 1642 Civil War settles balance. • Charles I executed by Parliamentary forces. Followed by 1689 Bill of Rights.

6. 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 1200s, not widespread (male) franchise until 1800s; women not until early 1900s. • 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.

7. Liberal Democracy • Hallmarks of liberal (vsilliberal) 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?).

8. 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 p512-3: nearly 250k 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).

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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?

12. Art of Democratization • Nigerian elections notoriously corrupt. • I.e. ‘Marvin Gaye’ on voter lists & rampant ballot stuffing. • ‘11: spent $580mil (incl aid) to fingerprint all 73.5mil voters. • Ltd polling booths to 1hr (to limit multiple voting). • Officials tallied votes in front of public. • Indp monitors tabulated results instantly w cell phones.

13. 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.