Democratization

Abstract

Democratization refers to the process of developing democratic institutions and practices and the sustainability of these institutions. Theories of democratization have focused on causes, necessary and sufficient conditions, the fragility of democratic processes, mechanisms for promoting successful consolidation of democracy, and strategies for avoiding reversal or stagnation of democratic reform. Significant debates involve differences in core definitions of democracy; emphasis on economic development or on elite interactions; the impact of international (transnational) norms and interventions; the role of popular participation and civil society; exclusions based on gender, race, and ethnicity; universal criteria or regional differences; and historical patterns and preconditions. Recently, theorists have begun to use the notion of de-democratization to note significant retrenchment in conditions that support equal citizenship, accountability in government, and civil and political liberties associated with democracy.