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    SPU326E: Democratic Government: Democratic Transition & Authoritarian Legacies 8 October, 2019

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    SPU326E: Democratic Government: Democratic Transition & Authoritarian Legacies 8 October, 2019

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    Anak Ns
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    SPU326E Lecture Slides Week 5

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    19 views9 pages

    SPU326E: Democratic Government: Democratic Transition & Authoritarian Legacies 8 October, 2019

    Uploaded by

    Anak Ns

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 9

    SPU326E: Democratic Government

    Democratic transition & authoritarian legacies


    8 October, 2019
    Question to ponder

    You are living in an authoritarian country and there is a small but


    growing mass democratic movement around you. The objective of the
    mass democratic movement is to topple the current authoritarian
    regime.

    What are the factors that compel you to join this mass democratic
    movement?

    In other words, what makes you act beyond self-interest and self-
    preservation in order to struggle for COLLECTIVE interests of the
    society, especially at the risk of getting harmed by the authoritarian
    regime?
    Social Movement Theory (I)
     Classical view (psychological): social movements are irrational, unpredictable and emotionally-
    driven
     Systematic studying of social movement since the 1950s especially the Black Civil Rights
    movement in the US
     2 main theories: resource mobilization and political process

    RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
     Success or failure depends on resources available to a movement
     5 types of resources:*
    1) Moral: sense of righteousness, right-or-wrong
    2) Cultural: historical grievance, unique local tradition
    3) Social organization: structure to organize and spread message
    4) Material: financial, building, land, tangible resources
    5) Human: workers, volunteers

    * Bob Edwards and John D. McCarthy, “Resources and Social Movement Mobilization” in Snow, Soule and Kriesi, eds., The Blackwell Companion to
    Social Movements (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004).
    Social Movement Theory (II)
    POLITICAL PROCESS MODEL
     5 key components:*
    1) Political opportunities: democratic opening
    2) Mobilizing structures: socio-religious-cultural network
    3) Framing processes: articulating grievances into a universally
    comprehensible message
    4) Protest cycles: the role of constant protests and demonstrations to raise
    awareness and strengthen movement solidarity
    5) Contentious repertoires: various strategies to spread message, raise
    awareness and educate public such as forums, strikes, sit-ins, leafletting,
    canvassing, writing in local and national media, petition signing, etc.

    * Edwin Amenta and Neal Caren, “The Legislative, Organizational and Beneficiary Consequences of State-Oriented
    Challenges” in Snow, Soule and Kriesi, eds., The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements (Malden, MA: Blackwell
    Publishing, 2004).
    Ideology and social movement
     Clear and consistent ideology is vital in sustaining a socio-political movement
     Ideology allows individuals to sacrifice self-interests for the sake of the
    movement’s interests
     Ideology allows individuals to take political risks in challenging the repressive
    regime
     How to inculcate ideology in a society?
    1) Political education – Antonio Gramsci’s “organic intellectuals” to counter the
    “dominant ideology”
    2) Personal connection
    3) Socialization of issues but framed in an ideological context
    Democratic Transition (I)
     Authoritarianism --> Democracy: Democratic Opening
     What factors?
     Economy: High inflation, high unemployment that affects even the middle class
     Types of authoritarianism: Oligarchic or “sultanistic”? Totally repressive or mixed
    approach?
     Role of military
     United or divided?
     Willingness to kill its fellow citizens
     Role of civil society
     Creative & adaptable but also willing to sacrifice
     Mixed approach by the regime --> Divided opposition --> More durable
    regime
     Increased enfranchisement
     Right or lower barrier to vote for previously marginalized group
     Free and fair election
    Democratic Transition (II)
     We are finally free. Now what?
     Election, election, election!
     Change or make a new constitution
     Power-sharing agreement
     Reform the military & police
     Forgive and forget? Maybe yes, maybe no.
     Truth & Reconciliation Commission
     “Authoritarian legacies”: Leftover from the old regime that can
    slow down the process of democratization

    French saying: “The more things change the more they stay the same”
    (plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose – Jean Baptiste Alphonse Karr, 1849)
    Authoritarian legacies
     Elites from previous regime manage to adapt to changing political
    environment and remain influential
    • Participate in open democratic competition
    • Party hopping – lack of consistent ideology
     Military is still very powerful
    • Can stage a coup d'état
     Old repressive laws still in place
    • Potential to be abused by newly democratized government
     Power still very centralized
    • Unequal distribution of power and wealth
    • Domination creates resentment
    Next week:

    ROAD TO DEMOCRATIC
    CONSOLIDATION!

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