GOVERNMENT
• The group of people
and institutions that
hold political authority
in a state.
• Often refers to the
leadership/elite that
runs the state.
– “Obama government”
– “Cameron government”
– “Jonathan government”
REGIME
• Fundamental rules and
norms for exerting
power in politics.
• Endure across
governments/
administrations.
• Long-term goals
regarding freedom and
equality (political and
economic).
TWO CATEGORIES
• Democratic Regimes
• Authoritarian Regimes
Substantive v. Procedural Democracy
• Substantive Democracy
–“Liberal” Democracy
–Democratic regime in which the
criteria for democracy is respected and
enforced.
Substantive v. Procedural Democracy
• Procedural Democracy
– “Illiberal” Democracy
– Have regular elections (usually not
competitive), but are missing most (or all)
of the other criteria.
Democratization
Transition Process
Authoritarian
Procedural Democracy
Substantive Democracy
Illiberal Democracy
Hugo Chavez
• President of Venezuela
• (1999-Current Day)
Images from: http://pohdiaries.com/hugo-chavez-mars-had-life-capitalism-finished-it-off/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VEN_orthographic.svg
Examples from the NPR report that make
Venezuela an illiberal democracy.
Criteria for Democracy
• Political Rights and Civil
Liberties
• Competitive Elections
• Rule of Law
• Civil Society
• Civic Culture
• Capitalism
• Independent Judiciary
• Civilian-controlled Military
Problems in Venezuela?
Three “Waves” of Democratization
• Samuel Huntington
First Wave
• When:
– Late 19th Century to WWII.
• Why:
– Expansion of urban middle class.
Second Wave
• When:
–End of WWII to 1970
• Why:
–De-colonization
Third Wave
• When:
–Mid-1970s until now.
• Why:
–Defeat of dictatorial and totalitarian
rulers (S. America, Africa, E. Europe)
Preconditions of Democratization
1. Level of Economic Development
– Developed infrastructure
– Modernization
– Large, educated middle class
Precondition of Democratization
2. Favorable
International
Environment
–
Powerful states may
PROHIBIT.
•
–
USSR after WWII.
PRESTIGE of
democracy.
INCENTIVES from other
democratic regimes.
–
•
Join (EU).