Chapter 6 Flashcards
Democracy & Authoritarianism
Democracy
System of governance in which elected representatives are held accountable for their actions by citizens through regular, free, and fair elections using secret ballots.
Direct Democracy
Entails regular plebiscites (incl. referendums) to determine policy. Direct democracy is rare.
InDirect Democracy
The most common type and involves the election of representatives.
Universal Suffrage
Who has the right to vote has varied historically (e.g. by class, gender, race). Today a democracy is thought to be synonymous with universal suffrage for citizen 18 and older.
Authoritarianism
Concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people. (election interference, limited party competition, press censored)
Totalitarianism
Citizens are subject to an absolute state authority. Complete penetration and control of society by the state, including through terror.
Illiberal Democracy
Restricting rights of citizens; re-writing constitution, voter intimidation.
Effective gatekeeping
Political establishment and civil society exclude cooperation with extremist parties
Democracy Needs:
Economic Development, Modernization, Civil Culture, Emphasizes Agency. Military and Political Pacts.
Democracy: 1st Wave
1700 - 1939; suffrage extended, and separation of powers (Britain, U.S., France) Had reversals, pre-conditions not sustained, and subversion
Democracy: 2nd Wave
1945 - 1971; democratic winning gov’t imposed gov’t style on other countries. Consolidation present, although reversal were too.
Democracy: 3rd Wave
1970 - 1990; Southern Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Peaceful transitions.
Democracy: 4th Wave
1990 - present; the Arab Spring. Hostile, uses social media.
Authoritarianism Needs:
Personalized Power, Conservative at Home, Foreign Involvement
Civil Society
Non-Gov’t organization formed to push societal interest to gov’t
