**Democratization Briefing Paper Assignment** **Directions:** **Part One:**  Read the briefing paper and answer the nine questions below.  You will be turning this part in for your teacher to grade.  **Part Two:**  On the blog, post your answer to question 9.   Provide a thoughtful, informed response that explains your opinion concerning the authors’ predictions.  Then respond to at least two other postings. Demonstrate that you have read the material.   1. What is democratization?  Summarize the three waves.  Also, what is Freedom House and how does it rate different countries?  How do levels of economic development and the international environment of democracy affect democratization?  Provide examples.  2. What is the difference between “democratization from above” and “democratization from below”?  Explain the differences between a personalistic authoritarian regime and a single-party authoritarian regime.  Please provide specific examples in your analysis.  From above democratization is when the leaders of a nation implemet the democracy in that place. From below is when the people seek to implement democracy through demonstrations and action. Personalistic authoritaion regimes are help together by the connections and allieances of the leader. Usually in underdeveloped societies, enough to pay supporters, but inability to pay military and beaurcrats make it weak to external pressures. An example of this is Africa in the 1990s. Single party is when it’s a group of certain individuals with certain aspirations and goals. The Soviet Union and China were examples of this. 3. Describe democratic consolidation.  What is the most powerful factor shaping democratic consolidation? Why?  Under what circumstances will consolidating a democracy often fail?  Democratic consolidation is when the democratic processes has penetrated deeply through the institutions of political parties, beaurcraicies, judiciaries and militaries. The most powerful factory in shaping this is the economic development and modernization of a state. It’s difficult for a democracy to sustain itself when most of its people and poor and illiterate. Consolidating a democracy often fails when it’s already fragile and is overgrown through violence. 4. What percentage of the world’s democracies are “partial” or “illiberal”?  Explain the largest policy consequence of a successful democratic consolidation?  Explain other political consequences.  About 1/4 of the world’s democracies are illiberal. Not as much of a chance for war. Another consequence is less likely for famine. When there are policies that fail, free press raises awareness and people respond. 5. How does democratic consolidation directly and indirectly help economic growth?  What is democratic responsiveness, and why is it complicated?  It gives people the ability to have free speech to raise awareness for issues. Democratic responsiveness is a claim that electoral competition and free participation induce the government to do what the people want. It’s complicated because of the many different things people want and the policies that face obstacles. 1. According to Freedom House, what does it mean to be fully democratized?  Why do Great Britain and Mexico specifically and individually get this ranking?  To be fully democratized it means to have significant civil and political freedom. Great Britain does because it has been functioning with free and fair elections and spread out power for a long time. Mexico has shifted to presidential elections that are relatively free. 7. According to Freedom House, what does it mean to be partially democratized?  Why do Russia and Nigeria specifically and individually get this ranking?  Partially democratized means to have a bit of democracy, but elections are still controlled either by one party or limiting options for candidate. Nigeria gets this because it’s been having a rocky time, with military coups occurring and civilians taking back power. Like Nigeria, Russia has had a rocky time. With the long reign of Putin, there is limited political freedoms. 8. According to Freedom House, what does it mean to be undemocratic?  Why do Iran and China specifically and individually get this ranking?  To be un democratic it pretty much means repressive government and authoritarian, with little political freedom. Iran gets this ranking because of its very oppressive leaders and deep entanglement of state and religion. The biggest piece for China is the reigning communist party, which exercises great control over most aspects of ciclismo life. ​9. What are the authors’ predictions for the future?  What is the basis for these predictions?  Do you agree or disagree with the authors’ predictions?  Explain your answer. It pretty much says that things will change based of economic development, and the desires of the people. I agree with what they are saying, things will ebb and flow. Based on what the people want, and whether or not certain countries will develop economically.