2021Politology bulletinOpen access

FEATURES OF AUTHORITARIAN DEMOCRATIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION

Oleg Tkach, Аnatoly Tkach

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Abstract

Authoritarian regimes become more prone to democratization when faced with little choice or risk. In some cases, the risk of democratization for authoritarian factors is so low that ending authoritarianism may not mean leaving power at all. This article develops a single theory of authoritarian democratization in a relatively low risk environment. The power of the authoritarian factor is the most important factor of democratization under the leadership of authoritarianism. When the strength of the current party was significant enough to give incumbent authoritarian politicians considerable confidence in winning the election, ndemocratic regimes conducted reverse democratic experiments that eventually culminated in a stable, prosperous democracy. Evidence of the first wave of democratization in Europe, the democratic transitions in Asia and Africa, illustrates how the party force reinforced democratization led by authoritarianism. As a result, the factors of the collapse of democracy include: the weakening of political institutions, violations of individual rights and freedom of thought, which call into question the efficiency and stability of democratic systems. It is established that the problematic aspects are the level of inequality, differences in identity; democratization through bottom-up peaceful protests has led to a higher level of democracy and democratic stability than democratization caused by elites; constitutions resulting from pluralism (reflecting different segments of society) are more likely to promote liberal democracy.

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Authoritarian regimes become more prone to democratization when faced with little choice or risk. In some cases, the risk of democratization for authoritarian factors is so low that ending authoritarianism may not mean leaving power at all. This article develops a single theory of authoritarian democratization in a relatively low risk environment. The power of the authoritarian factor is the most important factor of democratization under the leadership of authoritarianism. When the strength of the current party was significant enough to give incumbent authoritarian politicians considerable confidence in winning the election, ndemocratic regimes conducted reverse democratic experiments that eventually culminated in a stable, prosperous democracy. Evidence of the first wave of democratization in Europe, the democratic transitions in Asia and Africa, illustrates how the party force reinforced democratization led by authoritarianism. As a result, the factors of the collapse of democracy include: the weakening of political institutions, violations of individual rights and freedom of thought, which call into question the efficiency and stability of democratic systems. It is established that the problematic aspects are the level of inequality, differences in identity; democratization through bottom-up peaceful protests has led to a higher level of democracy and democratic stability than democratization caused by elites; constitutions resulting from pluralism (reflecting different segments of society) are more likely to promote liberal democracy.

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Available abstract

Authoritarian regimes become more prone to democratization when faced with little choice or risk. In some cases, the risk of democratization for authoritarian factors is so low that ending authoritarianism may not mean leaving power at all. This article develops a single theory of authoritarian democratization in a relatively low risk environment. The power of the authoritarian factor is the most important factor of democratization under the leadership of authoritarianism. When the strength of the current party was significant enough to give incumbent authoritarian politicians considerable confidence in winning the election, ndemocratic regimes conducted reverse democratic experiments that eventually culminated in a stable, prosperous democracy. Evidence of the first wave of democratization in Europe, the democratic transitions in Asia and Africa, illustrates how the party force reinforced democratization led by authoritarianism. As a result, the factors of the collapse of democracy include: the weakening of political institutions, violations of individual rights and freedom of thought, which call into question the efficiency and stability of democratic systems. It is established that the problematic aspects are the level of inequality, differences in identity; democratization through bottom-up peaceful protests has led to a higher level of democracy and democratic stability than democratization caused by elites; constitutions resulting from pluralism (reflecting different segments of society) are more likely to promote liberal democracy.

Key concepts: Democratization, Authoritarianism, Democracy, Political economy, Political science, Politics, Pluralism (philosophy), Development economics

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