Transition to Democracy
In: Peace review: the international quarterly of world peace, Band 12, Heft 1, S. 23-30
ISSN: 1040-2659
Countries making the transition to democracy face various decisions relative to the previous authoritarian regime, eg, how to handle remaining dangerous members of the previous regime & whether to continue long-term practices begun by the regime. It is argued that the goal of the new democracies must be to discourage authoritarian governments, which may be accomplished through the harsh punishment of authoritarian leaders, especially those who resist stepping down. Additional deterrents -- eg, preauthorizing military or other intervention in case of an authoritarian rise to power, & passage of measures that protect the public from debts amassed by future authoritarian governments -- are considered. D. Weibel
