Linz and Stepan Consolidated Democracy Study Guide and Notes free essay sample

Towards Consolidated Democracies Linz and Stepan * Three conditions before speaking about democratic consolidation * First†¦no state=no democracy * Second†¦. democracy cannot be thought of as consolidated until a democratic transition has been brought to completion * Necessary but by no means sufficient condition for the completion of a democratic transition is the holding of free and contested elections (on the basis of broadly inclusive voter eligibility) that meet the seven institutional requirements for elections in a polyarchy that Robert A. Dahl has set forth * Third†¦. no regime should be called a democracy unless its rulers govern democratically * Cannot fail to rule within the bounds of a state of law, their regimes are not democracies. * Authors: What then are the characteristics of consolidated democracy? * by a consolidated democracy we mean a political regime in which democracy as a complex system of institutions, rules, and patterned incentives and disincentives has become, in a phrase, the only game in town. * Working definition of consolidated democracy is then: Behaviorally- a democratic regime in a territory is consolidated when no significant national, social, economic, political, or institutional actors spend significant resources attempting to achieve their objectives by creating a nondemocratic regime or by seceding from the state * Attitudanly- a democratic regime is consolidated when a strong majority of public opinion, even in the midst of major economic problems and deep dissatisfaction with incumbents, holds the belief that democratic procedures and institutions are the most appropriate way to govern collective life, and when support for antisystem alternatives is quite small or more-or-less isolated from prodemocratic forces * Constitutionally- a democratic regime is consolidated when governmental and nongovernmental forces alike become subject to, and habituated to, the resolution of conflict within the bounds of the specific laws, procedures, and institutions sanctioned by the new democratic process. Consolidated Democracy does not mean NO chance of breakdown and does not mean all Consolidated democracies look alike * In addition to a function state there are 5 other conditions that are necessary: * Conditions must exist for the development of a free and lively civil society * Value articulation and adva ncing of interests key * Autonomous political society * Arena for contestation of power * State bureaucracy that is usable by the new democratic government * Effective Rule of Law * Institutionalized economic society * Rechtsstaat, which is a state subject to law, is absolutely critical for consolidated democracy * Presidents are more likely to abuse and to get around rule of law than PM’s†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦no checks on Presidents like for a PM (i. e. o confidence vote) * Effective democracy requires effective bureaucracy to tax and maintain control of day-to-day functions†¦. many cases (i. e. Chile) bureaucracy remains largely molded by authoritarian past, this needs to change if democracy is to become consolidated * Economics are key for consolidated democracy * No Consolidated democracy with command economy * No consolidated economy with pure market economy * Markets cannot be maintained without a degree of regulation * State has to correct ‘market failures’ * Democracy naturally will push the government to offer so me sort of public goods to alleviate inequality * Democracy is an interacting system†¦.. e need the five characteristics to be acting in unison in order for all of them to be functioning effectively * Two surmountable concerns to consolidation * Ethnic conflict * Disappointed popular hopes for economic improvement * What empirical conditions are the logics of state policies aimed nation-building congruent with those aimed at crafting democracy†¦. conflicts with these different policies are reduced when almost all of the residents of a state identify with one subjective idea of a nation * Democratic transitions in these cases put into question relationship between Demos and Polis * Plurality naturally increases the complexity of politics * Careful crafting of institutions required Some methods of dealing with â€Å"stateness† are inherently incompatible with democracy * How do we achieve democracy in multinational states * Laitin: Competitive-Assimilation Grame†¦. best interests of working class to assimilate in order to have a better future for their kids in this environment * Author: This rarely happens, esp. in newer democracies in E. Europe * How can Democracy be achieved in multinational states? * State policies that grant inclusive and equal citizenship and gie all citizens a common â€Å"roof† of state mandated and enforced rights is the way to go * Federalism is a good policy option as well†¦. lthough you need to establish a national consciousness before decentralizing (otherwise you risk having extremists running these regions) * Political identities * They are not fixed of â€Å"primordial† * If outside forces do not force people to choose†¦many people are happy to identify themselves as having multiple or complementary identities * Examples of reforms that would kill chances of Dem. In multinational societies * Political society†¦. nationalization citizenship laws * Legal system†¦. could privilege one group’s customs over another * Rapid changeover to one language†¦. could leave some groups disadvantaged when accessing state services * One language for school and mass media†¦. eave civil society to develop in only one sector of society * â€Å"Titular nationality† of state could be granted special considerations in the economic realm * Problems of Simaltaneous Reforms * State restructuring must take precedence over economic reforms * Tightly coupled v. loosely coupled (medium range time frame†¦people can make independent and opposite assessments about political and economic trends) conceptions of economy and democracy * People can withstand deterioration of economy for a while†¦. incongruence cannot last forever though * Quality of democracy should be seen as separate from quality of society†¦.. quality of democracy can contribute positively/negatively to this, but two should NOT be confused.