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Defective democracy

February 15, 2024

Defective democracy is a concept that was proposed by the political scientists Wolfgang Merkel, Hans-Jürgen Puhle and Aurel S. Croissant at the beginning of the 21st century to subtilize the distinctions between totalitarian, authoritarian, and democratic political systems.[1][2] It is based on the concept of embedded democracy. While there are four forms of defective democracy, how each nation reaches the point of defectiveness varies.[3] One recurring theme is the geographical location of the nation, which includes the effects of the influence of surrounding nations in the region. Other causes for defective democracies include their path of modernization, level of modernization, economic trends, social capital, civil society, political institutions, and education.

Aspects of healthy democracies edit

To understand what makes a democracy defective, one must establish what a healthy democratic form of government is. A democracy is a system of government in which private citizens exercise their power directly by electing officials to one or more governing bodies, such as Norway's Storting.[citation needed] Healthy democracies can be classified as defective when any of the key components of government are missing, or fail to properly link to one another. All democracies provide universal suffrage, free and fair elections occurring on a recurring basis, a multi-party system, multiple sources of information in the country, universal rights, and voters' decision-making unhindered by country elites or external actors.[4]

Types of defective democracies edit

Further information: Hybrid regime

Exclusive democracy edit

Exclusive democracies are defective democracies because not all adult citizens have suffrage, resulting in unfair elections with no true sovereignty of the people. A major step forward in American democracy occurred with the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was brought forward due to the women's suffrage movement and ensured all US citizens have the right to vote, regardless of sex. The passing of the amendment ensured the US would not remain an exclusive democracy.[5]

Domain democracy edit

When militaries, entrepreneurs, landlords, local militias, or multi-national corporations take up political domains and veto power from the hands of democratically elected officials, the result is a domain democracy.[citation needed] An example of a military coup resulting in a domain democracy is the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état, in which the Zimbabwean military seized control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, key areas of Harare city, and placed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe under house arrest. In this instance, the coup was successful and after the resignation of Mugabe, Emmerson Mnangagwa peacefully became the 3rd President of Zimbabwe.[citation needed]

Illiberal democracy edit

Main article: Illiberal democracy

When elected officials are no longer held to constitutional principles due to the deterioration of power held by the judiciary, the nation becomes an illiberal democracy[citation needed] in which the rule of law is damaged or flawed, and the constitutional norms have little or no binding impact on elected officials and their actions.[citation needed] Individual civil rights are either partially nullified or not established. Illiberal democracy is the most common form of defective democracy.[5]

In 2017, Venezuela held a controversial election for state governors. Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his United Socialist Party swept the election, winning 17 of 23 states and 54% of the popular vote, despite Maduro's approval rating fluctuating between 17% and 22%. Ruling party members used state resources to help their campaigns, giving them an advantage over their rivals. The use of state funds for campaigns is illegal under normal circumstances but the Venezuelan court system had deteriorated to the point at which it only acted to serve the ruling party instead of serving true justice. This and other factors makes Venezuela a defective democracy.[6]

Delegative democracy edit

Main article: Delegative democracy

In delegative democracies, the Executive branch reigns supreme and the legislature and judiciary have very limited power over the Executive. Constitutional norms are rarely followed and the checks and balances of power required in healthy democracies are undermined.[7]

Delegative democracies commonly happen when there is one ruling party in a nation. Mexico prior to 1997 is an example. Mexico's ruling party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, ruled unchecked by any viable competition since the Mexican Revolution. During the PRI's political dominance in Mexico, the nation was a delegative democracy with the executive branch ruling supreme[8] and the Congress effectively rubber-stamping decisions.

Anocratic regimes edit

Main article: Anocracy

Anocractic regimes are dictatorships with a democratic institution of the legislature. They possess a mixture of both democratic and autocratic attributes, which can lead to an increase in conflict within the nation. These types of governments can exist when the ruling elite avoid severe rights abuses and do not steal or cancel elections. The ruling party ensures the rights abuses are not well-publicized, which would agitate the people they are ruling over.[9]

Cuba for example, is an anocratic regime with both autocratic and democratic attributes. In Cuba, the Communist Party has complete control over the nation but there are still democratic attributes, namely the National Assembly of Popular Power, whose 600 members are elected for five-year terms by popular vote. None of the elections for Assembly positions, however, are contested.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Романюк, О. І. (2017-11-24). "WHAT IS «DEFECTIVE DEMOCRACIES» AND WHAT THEY ARE". The Bulletin of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. Series: Philosophy, Philosophies of Law, Political Science, Sociology. Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. 2 (33): 114–122. doi:10.21564/2075-7190.33.109732. ISSN 2663-5704.
  2. ^ Croissant, Aurel; Merkel, Wolfgang (2019-02-13). "Defective Democracy". The Handbook of Political, Social, and Economic Transformation. Oxford University Press. pp. 437–446. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198829911.003.0041. ISBN 978-0-19-882991-1.
  3. ^ Merkel, Wolfgang (2004-01-01). "Embedded and defective democracies". Democratization. Informa UK Limited. 11 (5): 33–58. doi:10.1080/13510340412331304598. hdl:10419/251950. ISSN 1351-0347. S2CID 149654333.
  4. ^ Bogaards, Matthijs (2009). "How to classify hybrid regimes?": 399–423. doi:10.1080/13510340902777800. S2CID 145315763. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b Merkel, Wolfgang (2004). "Democratization Vol.11". Democratization. Taylor & Francis Ltd.: 49. ISSN 1351-0347.
  6. ^ Toro, Francisco (2017-10-17). "Venezuela's democracy is fake, but the government's latest election win was real". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  7. ^ Merkel, Wolfgang (2004). "Democratization Vol.11". Democratization. Taylor & Francis Ltd.: 50. ISSN 1351-0347.
  8. ^ Weiss, Stanley (1997-09-17). "Finally, the Days of One-Party Rule Are Finished in Mexico". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  9. ^ Schipani, Matthew J., "Regime Completeness and Conflict: A Closer Look at Anocratic Political Systems." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010. http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/political_science_theses/35
  10. ^ "Cuba's Government". Global Security. Retrieved May 7, 2018.

Literature edit

  • Bendel, Petra; Croissant, Aurel; Rüb, Friedbert W., eds. (2002), Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur: Zur Konzeption und Empirie demokratischer Grauzonen, Opladen: Leske + Budrich, ISBN 3-8100-3087-2
  • Krennerich, Michael (2005), "Defekte Demokratie", in Nohlen, Dieter; Schultze, Rainer-Olaf (eds.), Lexikon der Politikwissenschaft: Theorien, Methoden, Begriffe, vol. 1 (3rd ed.), München: Beck, pp. 119–121, ISBN 3-406-54116-X
  • Merkel, Wolfgang (2010), Systemtransformation (2nd ed.), Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, ISBN 978-3-531-14559-4
  • Merkel, Wolfgang; Puhle, Hans-Jürgen; Croissant, Aurel, eds. (2003), Defekte Demokratien, vol. 1, Opladen: Leske + Budrich, ISBN 3-8100-3234-4
  • Merkel, Wolfgang; Puhle, Hans-Jürgen; Croissant, Aurel, eds. (2006), Defekte Demokratien, vol. 2, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, ISBN 3-8100-3235-2
  • O'Donnell, Guillermo (2004), "Delegative Democracy", Journal of Democracy, 5 (1): 55–69, doi:10.1353/jod.1994.0010, S2CID 8558740
  • Zakaria, Fareed (1997), "The Rise of Illiberal Democracy", Foreign Affairs, 76 (6): 22–43, doi:10.2307/20048274, JSTOR 20048274

External links edit

  • Wolfgang Merkel, Defective Democracies, 1999
  • Hans-Jürgen Puhle, Democratic Consolidation and 'Defective Democracies', 2005 2017-02-10 at the Wayback Machine

February 15, 2024
defective, democracy, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2020, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, conc. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Defective democracy is a concept that was proposed by the political scientists Wolfgang Merkel Hans Jurgen Puhle and Aurel S Croissant at the beginning of the 21st century to subtilize the distinctions between totalitarian authoritarian and democratic political systems 1 2 It is based on the concept of embedded democracy While there are four forms of defective democracy how each nation reaches the point of defectiveness varies 3 One recurring theme is the geographical location of the nation which includes the effects of the influence of surrounding nations in the region Other causes for defective democracies include their path of modernization level of modernization economic trends social capital civil society political institutions and education Contents 1 Aspects of healthy democracies 2 Types of defective democracies 2 1 Exclusive democracy 2 2 Domain democracy 2 3 Illiberal democracy 2 4 Delegative democracy 2 5 Anocratic regimes 3 See also 4 References 5 Literature 6 External linksAspects of healthy democracies editTo understand what makes a democracy defective one must establish what a healthy democratic form of government is A democracy is a system of government in which private citizens exercise their power directly by electing officials to one or more governing bodies such as Norway s Storting citation needed Healthy democracies can be classified as defective when any of the key components of government are missing or fail to properly link to one another All democracies provide universal suffrage free and fair elections occurring on a recurring basis a multi party system multiple sources of information in the country universal rights and voters decision making unhindered by country elites or external actors 4 Types of defective democracies editFurther information Hybrid regime Exclusive democracy edit Exclusive democracies are defective democracies because not all adult citizens have suffrage resulting in unfair elections with no true sovereignty of the people A major step forward in American democracy occurred with the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which was brought forward due to the women s suffrage movement and ensured all US citizens have the right to vote regardless of sex The passing of the amendment ensured the US would not remain an exclusive democracy 5 Domain democracy edit When militaries entrepreneurs landlords local militias or multi national corporations take up political domains and veto power from the hands of democratically elected officials the result is a domain democracy citation needed An example of a military coup resulting in a domain democracy is the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d etat in which the Zimbabwean military seized control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation key areas of Harare city and placed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe under house arrest In this instance the coup was successful and after the resignation of Mugabe Emmerson Mnangagwa peacefully became the 3rd President of Zimbabwe citation needed Illiberal democracy edit Main article Illiberal democracy When elected officials are no longer held to constitutional principles due to the deterioration of power held by the judiciary the nation becomes an illiberal democracy citation needed in which the rule of law is damaged or flawed and the constitutional norms have little or no binding impact on elected officials and their actions citation needed Individual civil rights are either partially nullified or not established Illiberal democracy is the most common form of defective democracy 5 In 2017 Venezuela held a controversial election for state governors Venezuela s President Nicolas Maduro and his United Socialist Party swept the election winning 17 of 23 states and 54 of the popular vote despite Maduro s approval rating fluctuating between 17 and 22 Ruling party members used state resources to help their campaigns giving them an advantage over their rivals The use of state funds for campaigns is illegal under normal circumstances but the Venezuelan court system had deteriorated to the point at which it only acted to serve the ruling party instead of serving true justice This and other factors makes Venezuela a defective democracy 6 Delegative democracy edit Main article Delegative democracy In delegative democracies the Executive branch reigns supreme and the legislature and judiciary have very limited power over the Executive Constitutional norms are rarely followed and the checks and balances of power required in healthy democracies are undermined 7 Delegative democracies commonly happen when there is one ruling party in a nation Mexico prior to 1997 is an example Mexico s ruling party the Institutional Revolutionary Party ruled unchecked by any viable competition since the Mexican Revolution During the PRI s political dominance in Mexico the nation was a delegative democracy with the executive branch ruling supreme 8 and the Congress effectively rubber stamping decisions Anocratic regimes edit Main article Anocracy Anocractic regimes are dictatorships with a democratic institution of the legislature They possess a mixture of both democratic and autocratic attributes which can lead to an increase in conflict within the nation These types of governments can exist when the ruling elite avoid severe rights abuses and do not steal or cancel elections The ruling party ensures the rights abuses are not well publicized which would agitate the people they are ruling over 9 Cuba for example is an anocratic regime with both autocratic and democratic attributes In Cuba the Communist Party has complete control over the nation but there are still democratic attributes namely the National Assembly of Popular Power whose 600 members are elected for five year terms by popular vote None of the elections for Assembly positions however are contested 10 See also editSemi democracyReferences edit Romanyuk O I 2017 11 24 WHAT IS DEFECTIVE DEMOCRACIES AND WHAT THEY ARE The Bulletin of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University Series Philosophy Philosophies of Law Political Science Sociology Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University 2 33 114 122 doi 10 21564 2075 7190 33 109732 ISSN 2663 5704 Croissant Aurel Merkel Wolfgang 2019 02 13 Defective Democracy The Handbook of Political Social and Economic Transformation Oxford University Press pp 437 446 doi 10 1093 oso 9780198829911 003 0041 ISBN 978 0 19 882991 1 Merkel Wolfgang 2004 01 01 Embedded and defective democracies Democratization Informa UK Limited 11 5 33 58 doi 10 1080 13510340412331304598 hdl 10419 251950 ISSN 1351 0347 S2CID 149654333 Bogaards Matthijs 2009 How to classify hybrid regimes 399 423 doi 10 1080 13510340902777800 S2CID 145315763 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Merkel Wolfgang 2004 Democratization Vol 11 Democratization Taylor amp Francis Ltd 49 ISSN 1351 0347 Toro Francisco 2017 10 17 Venezuela s democracy is fake but the government s latest election win was real The Washington Post Retrieved May 7 2018 Merkel Wolfgang 2004 Democratization Vol 11 Democratization Taylor amp Francis Ltd 50 ISSN 1351 0347 Weiss Stanley 1997 09 17 Finally the Days of One Party Rule Are Finished in Mexico The New York Times Retrieved May 7 2018 Schipani Matthew J Regime Completeness and Conflict A Closer Look at Anocratic Political Systems Thesis Georgia State University 2010 http scholarworks gsu edu political science theses 35 Cuba s Government Global Security Retrieved May 7 2018 Literature editBendel Petra Croissant Aurel Rub Friedbert W eds 2002 Zwischen Demokratie und Diktatur Zur Konzeption und Empirie demokratischer Grauzonen Opladen Leske Budrich ISBN 3 8100 3087 2 Krennerich Michael 2005 Defekte Demokratie in Nohlen Dieter Schultze Rainer Olaf eds Lexikon der Politikwissenschaft Theorien Methoden Begriffe vol 1 3rd ed Munchen Beck pp 119 121 ISBN 3 406 54116 X Merkel Wolfgang 2010 Systemtransformation 2nd ed Wiesbaden VS Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften ISBN 978 3 531 14559 4 Merkel Wolfgang Puhle Hans Jurgen Croissant Aurel eds 2003 Defekte Demokratien vol 1 Opladen Leske Budrich ISBN 3 8100 3234 4 Merkel Wolfgang Puhle Hans Jurgen Croissant Aurel eds 2006 Defekte Demokratien vol 2 Wiesbaden VS Verlag fur Sozialwissenschaften ISBN 3 8100 3235 2 O Donnell Guillermo 2004 Delegative Democracy Journal of Democracy 5 1 55 69 doi 10 1353 jod 1994 0010 S2CID 8558740 Zakaria Fareed 1997 The Rise of Illiberal Democracy Foreign Affairs 76 6 22 43 doi 10 2307 20048274 JSTOR 20048274External links editWolfgang Merkel Defective Democracies 1999 Wolfgang Merkel Embedded and Defective Democracies 2004 Hans Jurgen Puhle Democratic Consolidation and Defective Democracies 2005 Archived 2017 02 10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defective democracy amp oldid 1207154784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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