Waves
First Wave
1828-1926
Period
33 (Max)
Democracies (N)
French Revolution
Roots
and American
Revolution
First Reverse
Wave
1922-42
11 (Min)
disorientation and
alienation of
democracy (20s),
Great Depression
(30s), rise of
Communism,
Fascism and Nazism
Second Wave
1943-62
52 (Max)
allied occupation
after the war
(Germany, Italy,
Japan) and
decolonization
Remarks
a bifurcation b/n
"older" democracies
and "newer" ones -succumb to reverse
wave
"imposed
democracy" on
losers, populist
democracy (LA,
Peron) short-lived,
decolonization
produces tenuous
democracy
Definitions of
"democracy"
suffrage (50% adult
males) and
responsible govt.
(cabinet to
parliament, periodic
elections)
expanded suffrage
(100% males and
start for women
elections)
Second Reverse
Wave
Third Wave
Third Reverse
Wave
1958-75
30 (Min)
shift toward
authoritarianism (BA
& ISI), issues with
development,
disillusionment with
Modernization
School, military
coups, nationbuilding; Cold War
most new nations in
Africa not
democratic, BA (high
growth and political
repression)
constitutes a
challenge to
Modernization
Theory
197465 (Max) as of 1989
bankruptcy of BA;
demonstration effect;
decolonization; end
of Cold War
1980s-
withdrawal of
replacement of
military regimes,
fundamental
economic crisis
(debt, inflation, etc.),
considerable
liberalization in EA)
small setbacks in
Haiti, Sudan,
Nigeria, Suriname
Universal suffrage
Periodic, open, fair,
and competitive
elections
Democratization in the Modern World
Year
Democratic states
Nondemocratic states
Total states
1922
29
35
64
1942
12
49
61
1962
36
75
111
1973
30
92
122
1990
59
71
130
1992
91
92
183
2000
Sources: Huntington (1991: 26), Russett (1993: 138), Freedom House (2000)
% of democratic states
45.3
19.7
32.4
24.6
45.4
49.7
© Vincent Wei-cheng Wang