Democratization

Ella Carter

8 min read

Next Topic - Sources of and Changes in Power and Authority

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers democratization, focusing on its seven key characteristics: free and fair elections, competitive elections, government transparency, political and civil rights, independent judiciary, elected officials with authority, and rule of law. It examines these characteristics in several countries, including Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, China, and the UK, comparing emerging and established democracies with authoritarian regimes. The guide also explores democratic consolidation and backsliding, democratic waves, and provides practice questions and exam tips.

#AP Comparative Government Study Guide: Democratization

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP Comparative Government exam. This guide is designed to make sure you feel confident and ready to go. We'll break down the key concepts, connect the dots, and make sure you're not just memorizing, but truly understanding.

#Unit 1: Democratization

#What is Democratization?

Democratization is all about how regimes, whether authoritarian 👑 or democratic 🙋🏾‍♀️, incorporate more of the seven characteristics of democracy into their political systems. It's not always a straight path – sometimes there are steps forward and then backward. Think of it as a dance, not a march! 💃🕺

Key Concept

Remember, democratization can involve some, but not necessarily all, of the characteristics of democracy.

#Seven Characteristics of Democracy 🙋🏾‍♀️

Here's a quick rundown of the seven key characteristics. Think of these as the building blocks of a democratic system:

Free and Fair Elections: Elections where everyone eligible can vote, and votes are counted accurately.
Competitive Elections: Multiple parties have a real chance of winning; not just a one-party show.
Government Transparency: Policies and procedures are open, with due process, accountability, and transparency.
Political and Civil Rights: All citizens possess fundamental rights and liberties.
Independent Judiciary: A court system that is not controlled by other branches of government.
Elected Officials with Authority: Elected leaders actually have power over the government.
Rule of Law: Laws are clear, government is open, there's accountability, and justice is accessible.

#Democratization in Action: Country Examples

Let's see how these characteristics play out in our countries of study:

Free and Fair Elections
- Mexico 🇲🇽 & Nigeria 🇳🇬: These countries are working on electoral democratization by:
  - Increasing multiparty competition.
  - Creating gender/cultural quotas to include more people.
  - Using proportional representation (seats based on votes, unlike the US winner-takes-all system).
  - Adjusting vote thresholds and district boundaries.
  - Establishing independent election committees to reduce fraud.
- United Kingdom 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿: Even established democracies evolve! Remember how voting rights expanded to women in 1918 and 1928?
Competitive Elections
- Mexico 🇲🇽 & Nigeria 🇳🇬: The key here is that the party out of power has a chance to win. Mexico's PRI used to dominate for 71 years, but now power shifts between parties.
- Russia 🇷🇺: While Russia has multiple parties, no opposition party has ever gained control. This makes it an illiberal democracy – elections exist, but they're not truly ...

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