Suchergebnisse

This article advances a reinterpretation of Spain's democratic transition & consolidation, one with important implications for our understanding of the lessons Spain offers regarding the prospects for peaceful transitions & especially consolidation in other countries, particularly those of the Third Wave. It uses an analysis of the regime preferences of various political leaders during the late stages of Francoism to challenge influential existing interpretations of the Spanish case. Data on these preferences, derived from a series of interviews conducted in the mid-1990's, are analyzed in terms of a model involving the costs of toleration versus repression of the opposition. The article concludes that while conditions facilitating a transition to democracy have been present in many countries, Spain was highly distinctive when it came to the beliefs informing the political leaders who instigated democratization. In particular, a dramatic decline in the perceived costs of toleration in Spain explains their long-term commitment to democracy, a commitment undergirding the rapid & distinctive consolidation of Spain's democracy. Tables, Graphs. Adapted from the source document.

A review essay on a book by Jose Maria Maravall, Regimes, Politics, and Markets. Democratization and Economic Change in Southern and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 1997).

Contrary to the dominant literature and policy orientations, evidence from the Algerian case in two periods of study suggests that no positive link exists between economic liberalization and democratization. Instead, placing the focus on the content and context of these processes reveals that they are seldom objectives in themselves. Between 1988 and 1992, democratization was clearly instrumental in liberalizing the economy and this proved to be fatal for both. As for the period 1994–99, economic liberalization and democratization were complementary strategies aimed at keeping the regime in place. Although they were successful in this goal, neither of them was consistently implemented or pursued.

Can any State become democratic? Can the whole world become democratic? This article argues that the answers to both questions are yes, & that neither culture nor history nor poverty are insurmountable obstacles. Indeed, for much of the world that remains trapped in poverty, a growing body of evidence & policy analysis suggests that democratic, accountable, transparent governance is a fundamental condition for sustainable development. There are no preconditions for democracy, other than a willingness on the part of a nation's elite to attempt to govern by democratic means. But that, in itself, will require strong pressure from below, in civil society, & from outside, in the international community, to generate the political will for democratic reform. And sustaining democracy in the context of unfavorable cultural, social, & economic conditions requires institutions to foster effective, accountable governance as well as robust international engagement & support. Democracy can emerge anywhere, but it can only take root if it brings about, however gradually, a more prosperous, just, & decent society. Tables. Adapted from the source document.