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The Internet is transforming relations between states and citizens. This study gives examples of how it is creating new political communities at various levels, both in democracies and authoritarian regimes. It is also used by marginalized anti-democratic groups such as neo-Nazis.

Burnell, Peter: New challenges to democratization. - S.1-22 Whitehead, Laurence: State sovereignty and democracy: an awkward coupling. - S.23-41 Ottaway, Marina: Ideological challenges to democracy: do they exist? - S.42-58 Carothers, Thomas: The continuing backlash against democracy promotion. - S.59-72 Bermeo, Nancy: Democracy assistance and the search for security. - S.73-92 Doorenspleet, Renske: Public support versus dissatisfaction in new democracies: an 'inside challenge'? - S.93-115 McFaul, Michael; Spector, Regine A.: External sources and consequences of Russia's "sovereign democracy". - S.116-133 Breslin, Shaun: Democratizing one-party rule in China. - S.134-152 Kodmani, Bassma: Democratization by whom? Resistance to democracy promotion in the Middle East. - S.153-170 Youngs, Richard: Energy: a reinforced obstacle to democratization? - S.171-187 Burnell, Peter; Youngs, Richard: Addressing democracy's challenges. - S.188-200

The book provides an original typology of religiously oriented parties that is a useful guide to understand their nature, their organisational models and, crucially, how they might impact on democracy and democratization in a number of different contexts across the world. It was published as a special issue of Democratization.

Democratization is a major political phenomenon of the current age. Democratization through the looking glass argues that our perspectives on democratization reflect the intellectual origins of the inquiry. How we see and understand it are influenced by what we 'bring to the table'. By considering democratization across a range of disciplines from anthropology and economics, to sociology, law and area studies, this volume offers a rich combination of analytical frameworks, distinctive insights and leading points of concern. On one level the book provides anyone interested in democratization with a wide-ranging distillation of the main themes, issues, and topics, concisely written by leading experts in their field. On a second level the book advances the case for a broadly-based comparative study which includes Europe and North America alongside developing regions, while maintaining the belief that a multi-disciplinary approach enhances our understanding of democratization far more than that of a narrow political science view. The book is aimed at students of politics willing to explore the boundaries of their subject and all social scientists who need an introduction to this important contemporary phenomenon.

The Indonesian parliament and democratization -- Contents -- List of Tables -- List of Figures -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations and Indonesian acronyms -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Parliaments and democratization -- 3. Rubber stamp?: the role of the parliament during the last year of the presidency of Suharto -- 4. The awakening: the role of the parliament during the presidency of B.J. Habibie -- 5. Power broker: the role of the parliament during the presidencies of Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri -- 6. The parliament between 1997 and 2004: changes and continuities -- 7. Conclusion and perspectives -- References -- Index -- About the author.

A cross-disciplinary examination of democratization, as seen in different attempts at it across the globe.Democracy is not in steady state and democratizations are open-ended processes; they depend on structures and functions in systemic contexts that idiosyncratically evolve in tone, tenor, direction, and pace. They affect and are affected by scores of determinants, both perceived and hypothetical. In interlinked chapters that span a number of disciplines, this volume reexamines the basic traits, the comparable outcomes, and the self-defining dynamics of some of the more widely attempted versions of democracy across the world. It discusses some of the controversies that can speed up or slow democratizations (depending on systemic structures, functions, processes, and contexts at play inside, outside, and across political boundaries). The crucial question these chapters address is whether democratization is possible without an understanding of what is expected from a mode of citizenship inseparable from an ethic of freedom.

In Democratization through the Looking-Glass, Peter Burnell provides a revealing image of how our knowledge and understanding of democratization could be improved by viewing the topic through a more multi- disciplinary lens and from the perspective of more broadly based comparative analyses. Burnell and his contributors encourage readers to both "look and think outside of the box," beyond the limited parameters that usually shape the study of democratization.The goal of Democratization through the Looking-Glass is to pursue a more comprehensive understanding of democratization as a process taking many forms rather than just as a political phenomenon. With a viewpoint from a wider multi-disciplinary stance, and broader global geopolitical knowledge base, the contributors hope to get readers to better recognize and address gaps in the political science literature on the subject of democratization. The contributors seek to do this by specifically: explaining what democratization is while also making sense of the wide variety of experiences undergone by different societies at different times going through this very process; anticipating the wider effects of democratization's consequences for all human conditions at all levels; and critically assessing strategies for extending and deepening democracy by improving its positive qualities and chances of being sustained in societies into which it is introduced.This volume takes readers in the direction of predicting and foretelling the future of democracy and democratization with greater accuracy. In all, Democratization through the Looking-Glass provides a wide-ranging review of themes, issues, and topics concisely written by leading experts in their fields while advancing its case for more inclusive comparative studies covering Europe and North America, as well as developing regions, showing precisely how multi-disciplinary approaches enhance a global vision and understanding of democratization.

This volume explores the issues and debates surrounding the ongoing processes of democratization in sub-Saharan Africa, illuminating the central dynamics characterizing Africa's democratic experiments, and considering the connections between democratization and economic, social, and cultural developments on the continent. Reflecting the diverse and rich nature of this field of study, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa features more than thirty contributions structured into six thematic sections: The politics and paths of regime development Institutional dynamics Political mobilization and voting dynamics The politics of identity Social forces from below The consequences of democracy. Chapters offer overviews of the key scholarship on particular topics, including central insights from the latest research, and provide suggestions for those interested in further inquiry. The material includes attention to broad cross-continental patterns, for example with respect to public opinion, political violence, or the role of different institutions and actors. It also includes rich case material, drawing on and highlighting the experiences of a diverse collection of countries. Encouraging a comprehensive view of key concerns and enhancing understanding of particular issues, the Handbook of Democratization in Africa represents a critical resource for experts and students of African politics, democratization, and African studies.