Transitions to democracy : a comparative perspective

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Transitions to democracy : a comparative perspective

edited by Kathryn Stoner and Michael McFaul

Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013

  • : [hardback]
  • : pbk

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: [hardback] ISBN 9781421408132

Description

As demonstrated by current events in Tunisia and Egypt, oppressive regimes are rarely immune to their citizens' desire for democratic government. Of course, desire is always tempered by reality; therefore how democratic demands are made manifest is a critical source of study for both political scientists and foreign policy makers. What issues and consequences surround the fall of a government, what type of regime replaces it, and to what extent are these efforts successful? Kathryn Stoner and Michael McFaul have created an accessible book of fifteen case studies from around the world that will help students understand these complex issues. Their model builds upon Guillermo O'Donnell, Philippe C. Schmitter, and Laurence Whitehead's classic work, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule, using a rubric of four identifying factors that can be applied to each case study, making comparison relatively easy. Transitions to Democracy yields strong comparisons and insights. For instance, the study reveals that efforts led by the elite and involving the military are generally unsuccessful, whereas mass mobilization, civic groups, and new media have become significant factors in supporting and sustaining democratic actors. This collection of writings by scholars and practitioners is organized into three parts: successful transitions, incremental transitions, and failed transitions. Extensive primary research and a rubric that can be applied to burgeoning democracies offer readers valuable tools and information.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1. Transitional Successes and Failures: The International- Domestic Nexus Part I: Successful Transition Cases Chapter 2. The Soviet Union and Russia: The Collapse of 1991 and the Initial Transition to Democracy in 1993 Chapter 3. Poland: International Pressure for a Negotiated Transition, 1981-1989 Chapter 4. Serbia: Evaluating the Bulldozer Revolution Chapter 5. Ukraine: External Actors and the Orange Revolution Chapter 6. Indonesia: Economic Crisis, Foreign Pressure, and Regime Change Chapter 7. South Africa: Enabling Liberation Chapter 8. Chile: Coordinating a Successful Democratic Transition Part II: Incremental Transition Cases Chapter 9. Ghana: Democratic Transition, Presidential Power, and the World Bank Chapter 10. Mexico: International Influences but "Made in Mexico" Chapter 11. South Korea: The Puzzle of Two Transitions Chapter 12. Turkey: The Counterintuitive Transition of 1983 Part III: Failed Transition Cases Chapter 13. Algeria: An Aborted Transition Chapter 14. Iran: The Genealogy of a Failed Transition Chapter 15. China: The Doomed Transitional Moment of 1989 Chapter 16. Azerbaijan: Losing the Transitional Moment List of Contributors Index
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9781421408149

Description

As demonstrated by current events in Tunisia and Egypt, oppressive regimes are rarely immune to their citizens' desire for democratic government. Of course, desire is always tempered by reality; therefore how democratic demands are made manifest is a critical source of study for both political scientists and foreign policy makers. What issues and consequences surround the fall of a government, what type of regime replaces it, and to what extent are these efforts successful? Kathryn Stoner and Michael McFaul have created an accessible book of fifteen case studies from around the world that will help students understand these complex issues. Their model builds upon Guillermo O'Donnell, Philippe C. Schmitter, and Laurence Whitehead's classic work, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule, using a rubric of four identifying factors that can be applied to each case study, making comparison relatively easy. Transitions to Democracy yields strong comparisons and insights. For instance, the study reveals that efforts led by the elite and involving the military are generally unsuccessful, whereas mass mobilization, civic groups, and new media have become significant factors in supporting and sustaining democratic actors. This collection of writings by scholars and practitioners is organized into three parts: successful transitions, incremental transitions, and failed transitions. Extensive primary research and a rubric that can be applied to burgeoning democracies offer readers valuable tools and information.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1. Transitional Successes and Failures: The International- Domestic Nexus Part I: Successful Transition Cases Chapter 2. The Soviet Union and Russia: The Collapse of 1991 and the Initial Transition to Democracy in 1993 Chapter 3. Poland: International Pressure for a Negotiated Transition, 1981-1989 Chapter 4. Serbia: Evaluating the Bulldozer Revolution Chapter 5. Ukraine: External Actors and the Orange Revolution Chapter 6. Indonesia: Economic Crisis, Foreign Pressure, and Regime Change Chapter 7. South Africa: Enabling Liberation Chapter 8. Chile: Coordinating a Successful Democratic Transition Part II: Incremental Transition Cases Chapter 9. Ghana: Democratic Transition, Presidential Power, and the World Bank Chapter 10. Mexico: International Influences but "Made in Mexico" Chapter 11. South Korea: The Puzzle of Two Transitions Chapter 12. Turkey: The Counterintuitive Transition of 1983 Part III: Failed Transition Cases Chapter 13. Algeria: An Aborted Transition Chapter 14. Iran: The Genealogy of a Failed Transition Chapter 15. China: The Doomed Transitional Moment of 1989 Chapter 16. Azerbaijan: Losing the Transitional Moment List of Contributors Index

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