Democratization Notes
Background:
Important practices/conditions for democracy:
Free elections, multiple parties, economic security, education/literacy, protections against corruption, rule
of law
I. Steps toward Democracy in Latin America:
Most of Latin America Gained Independence from Spain & Portugal in early 1800s
Brazil: Initially a monarchy, then a dictatorship (Vargas), then popular elections starting in 1956 brought
Kubitscheck into power, who made reforms attempting to spread wealth. Successful military coup in
1964 to prevent land redistribution. Recession in 1985 brought a need for reforms and thus a return to
democratic elections. Since then elections have shown struggle between capitalist and socialist policies.
2002 economic crisis pushes Brazil toward more government intervention/control.
Mexico: Mexico has found political stability through most of the 20th c. It has had a democratic
constitution since 1917. One political party– the National Revolutionary Party - dominated elections in
Mexicofor much of the 20th c. They changed their name to the Institutional Revolutionary Party in 1946
(PRI). Economic downturns lead to protests against the government and eventually growth in opposition
parties. A 1968 protest was brutally put down by the government, killing several hundred people. In
2000, Vicente Fox became the first non-PRI president in 71 years. He focused on ending government
corruption and police corruption and expanding Mexico’s economy. Current President: Felipe Calderon
issues: Mexicans living in the US and power, lawlessness, and violence of drug gangs/cartels.
Argentina: Argentina experienced several military coups in the early 20th century, then the Perons gained
power in 1946. They offered social welfare programs, but restricted freedoms. In 1976 after the Perons
were no longer in power, a military coup occurred followed by persecution, kidnapping, and murder of
the group’s political opponents. Since 1983 Argentina has again conducted free elections, despite serious
economic difficulties in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Among these difficulties was the government’s
default on debt payments in 2002, causing severe currency devaluation. Argentina is still trying to
strengthen and stabilize its economy.
II Challenges of Democracy in Africa
Common themes/issues in African nations:
1. European-drawn borders carelessly mix ethnic and cultural groups who have little in common or
may actually be enemies. This caused difficulty developing national identities and invited power
struggles between rival groups.
2. Struggling economies: Colonies had served mainly to provide raw materials to their colonizers
and did not develop modern economies in their own right.
3. Struggling democracies: rival groups competing for power often ignored new constitutions to
seize power
Civil War in Nigeria
Nigeria peacefully gained independence from GB in 1960.
Unfortunately, fighting between three ethnic groups in Nigeria – the Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa-Fulani –
errupted in Nigeria’s civil war in the 1960s. In the 1970s, a military government returned order and
uncorrupted presidential elections resumed in 1999. Ethnic violence, corruption, poverty, and hunger still
trouble Nigeria, even though it has become one of Africa’s wealthier nations due to oil.
South African Apartheid (Racial Segregation)
S.A. was racially divided since the beginning of colonization by Dutch and British. In 1948, the National
Party took power and instituted Afrikaner (Dutch South African nationalism). This included racial
segregation called “Apartheid” While protests from the majority black population date back to the early
colonial days, violent protest occurred in the 1970s and 1980s. Desmond Tutu helped lead the antiapartheid movement, F.W. deKlerk (white) eventually opened up to reforms. Nelson Mandela, a black
leader in the ANC (African National Congress) party became the first president elected in S.A. by white
AND Black voters in 1994. Current issues in S.A. include economic difficulties, AIDS
III. Collapse of the USSR
1960s and 1970s, government keeps tight control on people.
Changes come under Gorbachev, who was in power from 1985-1991. During this time, Gorbachev
instituted “glasnost” or “openness” policy in 1985. This allowed people to share competing ideas without
threat from Soviet leaders. In 1985, he also instituted perestroika – economic reforms that allowed free
markets, private business. In 1987, he moved toward democraticization. In 1987, he began arms
control/disarmament.
In 1990, amidst increase movement for independence for ethnic groups within the USSR, Lithuania
declared independence. Gorbachev responded with troops. Economic difficulties and the assault in
Lithuania decreased Gorbachev’s popularity and Boris Yeltsin became the first democratically elected
president of RUSSIA. In 1991, a group of communist hard-liners attempted a coup, but they did not
succeed. Russians felt powerful and unafraid. By the end of 1991, all the former republics became
independent again. The economy struggled under Yeltsin, however, and he faced opposition. A muslim
ethnic group in Chechnya in Southwest Russia also pushed for independence. Yeltsin engaged in a civil
war to keep Chechnya as part of Russia. In 1999, Yeltsin resigned and named Vladmir Putin as president.
Current issues include economic difficulties, homelessness, high unemployment, and decline in standard
of living and life expectancy. Putin was recently reelected as President (following Medvedev)
IV. Changes in Central and Eastern Europe
Breakdown of the Soviet Union inspired changes in Eastern Block nations
Poland
Before USSR breaks apart, Polish workers move for more rights. Lech Walesa leads a labor movement
called “Solidarity.” In 1989, Poland held free elections and Walesa won. He was unable to quickly
improve Poland’s economy and was voted out of office in 1995. Kwasniewski was elected and helped
Poland attempted to make economic improvements through free markets and democracy.
Hungary
Inspired by Poland, leaders instituted capitalist reforms (private ownership, stock market). Radicals took
over the Communist party and dissolved it! Several parties cooperated in the nation’s democratically
elected parliament.
German Reunification
In 1989, many East Germans were able to escape into West Germany. East German government
responded by closing its borders. East Germans protested and their pressure eventually resulted in the
tearing down of the Berlin Wall. Germany began talks of reunification and this occurred in 1990. East
Germany was in ruins from years of Communist Rule. German Chancellors Helmut Kohl and then
Gerhard Schroeder worked toward improving the economy. Angela Merkel is the current Chancellor.
Overthrow in Romania
Romania was the last of Eastern European nations to democratize. Nicolae Ceausescu was determined to
retain Communist control. However, protesters overwhelmed him and he tried to flee the country after
brutally killing/wounding hundreds of protesters. Romania has held democratic elections, but corruption,
crime, and a poor economy still offer challenges to Romania.
The Breakup of Yugoslavia
In BRIEF: The former Yugoslavia was made up of several different major ethnic groups, each with its
own language, religion, culture, and history. These included: Albanians, Croats, Hungarians,
Macedonians, Montenegrins, Muslims, Serbs, and Slovenes. The breakup of the Soviet Union and
democratization in Eastern Europe inspired several of the ethnic groups to push for and gain
independence. Ethnic groups wanted their own nations. Despite bloody violence, many eventually
succeeded in gaining independence.
The details: In the wave of democratization, two republics – Slovenia and Croatia declared
independence. The Serbian-born president of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosovic led the Yugoslav army to
try and reclaim Slovenia and Croatia. It was unsuccessful and then Bosnia-Herzegovina also declared
independence. Serbs in Bosnia opposed the independence and began a campaign of ethnic cleansing
against Bosnian Muslims wanted independence from Yugoslavia. Bosnia-Herzegovina won
independence and established a new constitution agreed upon by the three major ethnic groups: Bosnians,
Serbs, and Croatians.
Finally, in 1998, an independence movement in in Kosovo, a province of Southern Yugoslavia resulted in
violence. Serbian led Yugoslav forces fought to hold on to Kosovo which was made up of ethnic
Albanians. NATO got involved and began a bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, pressuring them to
let go of Kosovo.
A current map of the former Yugoslavia now is as follows: