Democratic Transitions and Revolutions Flashcards

1
Q

Individual actors in agency based theory

A

Individuals/groups important for transition outcomes
- Authoritarian government
○ Hardliners: use force to defend system
○ Softliners: to stay in power must adopt reforms
- Opposition movement
○ Radical: reject compromise with leaders in power
Moderate: willing to accept negotiation with incumbents

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2
Q

When are democratic transitions more likely to succeed

A

According to theory, softliners in government, moderate opposition -> negotiations

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3
Q

What is O’Donnell/Schmitter agency based theory?

A
  • If no split of hardliners and softliners in authoritarian regime, no democracy
    • If regime is united
    ○ Perpetuation of power
    ○ Armed revolutionary struggle
    § Eg CUBA -> dictator off, new regime rises
    • If regime has division -> democratic transition BUT risk of coup
    ○ Beginning stages: soft-liners have upperhand /// MUST have prominent military officers with softliners -> reduces chances of coup
    As transition goes: softliners/opposition have shared interest agaianst hardliners -> pact b/w softliners&moderate opposition = more liberalization
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4
Q

What is a country that has had a successful agency based theory?

A

Poland

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5
Q

How did Poland become democratic?

A

Early 1980s
- Solidarity emerges with labor unions
- Hardliners have upperhand -> martial law/mass arrests with support of USSR
Mid 1980s
- Gorbachev in USSR = softliner
- Softliners (Solidarity) in Polish government -> negotiations -> solidarity legalized & multi-party elections
Solidarity takes majority, THUS transition to democracy

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6
Q

What is a country that had a failed transition to democracy?

A

Egypt

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7
Q

How did Egypt fail to become democratic?

A
  • The Arab Spring (2011)
    • Revolutions against military and dictator
    • Government causes violent repression -> opposition radicalizes
    • Military leader forced to resign
  • 2012
    • Morsi (leader of opposition) elected President
    • Power struggle between strong military leader and morsi
    • Morsi rules authoritarianly -> protests against Morsi
  • 2013
    • Military coup against Morsi -> Morsi/leaders arrested //// supporteres killed
    • Coup leader elected president
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8
Q

What is something common with all revolutiosn?

A

Want to drastically transform country structurally

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9
Q

What are the different types of revolutions?

A
  • Social revolutions

Political revolutioin

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10
Q

What is a social revolution?

A

Revolution that transforms the social structure

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11
Q

What’s an example of social revolutions

A
French revolution
Social class structure
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12
Q

What is a political revolution?

A

Change in political institutions

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13
Q

Whats an example of a political revolution?

A

Revolutions in eastern europe (poland)

Communist -> multiparty

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14
Q

What are the theories of Why revolutions happen?

A
  1. Relative deprivation
  2. Political opportunity structure
  3. Cultural framing/explanations
  4. Rational choice theories
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15
Q

What is relative deprivation?

A
  • One group feels less than others in society

- Deprivation -> greiviences and find others who share same grievances -> protests/revolution

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16
Q

What are examples of relative deprivation?

A
  • Third estate in French Revolution

- Workers in Russian Bolshevik Revolution

17
Q

What is political opportunity structure?

A
Political opportunites -> opportunites for a revolution to start
	- Weak state (lack of state capacity)
	- Access to resoucess 
		○ Eg. Weapons/meeting places
	- Patterns of mobilization
Eg. Social networks/media access
18
Q

What is cultural/framing explanations?

A

Importance of ideas/beliefs

Revolutions are an idea that can become reality

19
Q

What is an example of cultural/framing explanations?

A

Bolshevik revolution

Framing = liberate working class

20
Q

What are rational choice theories?

A

Focus on conditions where individuals engage in collective action

21
Q

What is collective action?

A
  • Action individuals/groups take to pursue common goals
22
Q

What do rational individuals believe

A

Individuals are rational

23
Q

Collective action problem

A
  • Individuals have common goals BUT organizing as group is hard
  • individual interest = free riding
    If majority free rides, action doesn’t happen
24
Q

Why do people join revolution?

A

Conditions alter rational calculation -> bring down costs for individual