Problems in paradise? Challenges to future democratization in democratic states

Abstract

What are the challenges to future democratization in states regarded as democratic? This study shows that some states that are traditionally regarded as democratic consist of political institutions in need of further democratization. On average, states that are classified as democratic have one or two institutional dimensions in need of further democratization. The main institutional dimensions in need of democratization are functions of government, rule of law, personal autonomy and individual rights. In order to investigate challenges to future democratization, the study presents a methodology that uses Freedom House Index and Polity Index in a new innovative way.

Ruling but not Governing: Tutelary Regimes and the Case of Myanmar

“…It has conceived of tutelary interference as a spectrum of the possible and not mutually exclusive roles tutelary actors can perform in a political system. The case study of Myanmar demonstrates extreme ‘regime heterogeneity’ (Denk and Silander 2011), with relatively free and fair elections in 2015 (and beyond), a significant degree of electoral competitiveness, and limitations in universal suffrage and the right to be elected. If the focus were on elections alone, Myanmar could be considered an ‘electoral democracy’, though the reserved seats for military officers block the ‘chain of responsiveness’ (Schedler 2013).…”

Towards the Interpretative Approach to Political Culture

“…Ti koncepti također sugeriraju da nije dostatno prosuđivati demokratski poredak na temelju minimalnih indikatora poput izbornog natjecanja (Diamond, 2002). Čak i pri uključivanju kompleksnijih dimenzija (poput raznih obilježja izvršne vlasti) često je konačan ishod preuveličana razina demokratizacije ako se u obzir nisu uzimale i primjerice vladavina prava i razina političkih i građanskih prava (Alexander, Inglehart i Welzel, 2012;Denk i Silander, 2012). No, i te su mjere često nezadovoljavajuće jer se iz njih teško može vidjeti koliko su demokratski principi i očekivanja zaista utjelovljeni u praksi -i u institucijama i među građanima -i koliko će se uspjeti dugoročno održati.…”

“…Ipak, u skladu s argumentom o nedostatnosti minimalnih formalnih mjera u evaluaciji demokratizacije (Alexander, Inglehart i Welzel, 2012;Denk i Silander, 2012), i hrvatska demokracija u ranim 2000-tima izgleda problematičnije kada se u obzir uzmu vladavina prava i razina građanskih i političkih sloboda. Primjerice, prema Freedom House indeksu građanskih i političkih sloboda Hrvatska je na oba indeksa između 2001. i 2007. godine ostvarivala rezultat 2 (Freedom House, 2022).…”

Serving Two Masters: Professionalization versus Corruption in Ukraine's Election Administration

“…The development of reliable institutions with professionalized staff members who can effectively implement laws has been a key concern in the study of the democratization process (Ball ; Beal and Graham ; Johnston ) and a challenge even in some established democracies (Denk and Silander ). In many societies, tension between the influence of formal rules and the temptation of corrupt practices impedes efforts to establish appropriate behavioral norms (Downs ).…”