Causes of Democratization

Question 1

Socio-Economic Preconditions

Answer 1

Economic Theory: Wealthier countries are more likely to be democratic
Cultural Theory: Democratic culture in a country is vital for democratization to occur

Question 2

Existing Regime (Loss of Legitimacy)

Answer 2

Loss of Legitimacy: When citizens no longer accept that those ruling are qualified to do so

Question 3

Existing Regime (Split in Existing Regime)

Answer 3

Split in Existing Regime: When the old regime ceases to be unified

Question 4

Existing Regime (Strength of Existing Regimes)

Answer 4

Strength of Existing Regimes: Competitive Authoritarian regimes are more likely to remain competitive authoritarian regimes

Question 5

Opposition (Active Opposition)

Answer 5

Active Opposition: Transition to democracy when there is an active civil society and when an opposition demands democratic transition

Question 6

Opposition (Unified Opposition)

Answer 6

Unified Opposition: Democracy occurs when the opposition is unified

Question 7

Individuals

Answer 7

Individuals: Democratic transition occurs due to the “right people at the right time”; who leads democratic transition?

Question 8

External Actors (Direct)

Answer 8

Direct External Actors: Military Occupation

Question 9

External Actors (Indirect)

Answer 9

Indirect External Actors: Pressure (more likely to get aid from foreign partners or to join an international organization), Removal of External Restraint (when factors prohibiting a country from democratizing ‘go away’), and Snowballing (looking at what other countries are doing)