1- Understanding democratic transitions 2- Typology of transitions 3- Prerequisites and conditions

1- Conceptual issues 2- Explaining ‘transition’ 3- Problems of ‘transition’

1- Conceptual Issues ‘Transition’  transition from authoritarian rule ‘regime’  formal & informal structure of governmental roles & processes

 distinguish b/w regime & Govt = 3 Q 1- methods of inauguration? 2- formal & informal representative mechanisms? 3- patterns of coercion?

‘Authoritarian’  a system with significant procedural proscriptions on political contestation or inclusiveness ‘Democracy’  “an essentially contested concept” Robert Dhal  ‘polyarchy’

‘Liberalisation’  easing of repression + restoration of civil liberties  part of a process  liberalisation precedes ‘democratisation’

‘Democratisation’  creation of institutions & procedures that allow for all 3 aspects of Dahl’s polyarchy Huntington (The Third Wave) : Democratisation  alternation of power

2- Explaining ‘Transition’ Complex term = variety of meanings: 1- erosion of authoritarianism 2- conditions for democratic transitions 3- process of democratic regime change 4- consolidation of new democracies 5-consolidation of ‘established’ democracies

Concern  two decades of inquiry Two issues = 1- difficulties of dealing with democratic rule 2- the nature & causes of its breakdown  context of inquiry

I. Mid-1960s-early 1970s: breakdown of democratic rule in developing nations (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay) Scholarly attention  international constraints obstructing democracy (e.g. dependency) = internal & external forms of political economic domination

II. Early to late 1970s: renewed interest in democratisation (e.g. Portugal, Spain, Greece)

III. Late 1980s-early 1990s: a) democratising trends in long- authoritarian regimes (El Salvador, S/Korea, Guatemala; b) breakdown of communism (E. Europe)

3- Problems of Transition 1- defining chronological parameters of T Three Questions: Does it have its roots within the process of transformation of an authoritarian R? Does it begin after the fall of such R? How do you account for reverses?

2- Difficulty of defining its end point: Two Questions: When democratic procedures, rights and rules of the game have been clearly defined and accepted by elites and citizens? Is it complete with the first alternation of power?

Diverse explanations Example: Lipset Hypothesis “Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development & Political Legitimacy”, American Political Science Review 53 (1959), pp

Dhal agrees  economic development expands the range of people with capacities to get involved politically: “A modern dynamic pluralist society disperses power, influence, authority and control away from any single centre toward a variety of individuals, groups, associations and organisations”

R. Dhal, Democracy and its Critics (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989), p. 252.

Lipset  High level of economic development is a precondition for building and maintaining democracy Inquiry focus = pinpoint causes International system, class structure, economic performance, political institutions

New Writings on democracy  pay attention to the warning of Dankwart Rustow  Draws attention to correlation not cause Stresses that there is no single road to democracy + history, context “ Transitions to Democracy,” Comparative Politics 2 (1970)

1- Divide in two or three groups 2- List what you consider to be essential prerequisites for democratic transition 3- Think about culture & external variables 4- Apply these requisites to the Middle East in your next tutorial