POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Resource Curse, Velvet Revolution, Arab Spring
Document Summary
Demos = people / cracy = rule. Until french revolution it was widely held in europe that benign dictators, monarchies, or particular classes knew best how to govern. History of democratization: samuel huntington"s the three waves . Early 19th century - 1922 extension of suffrage to propertied males, all males, and (in some countries) women. Democratic states fail (italy, germany, spain, etc. ) Allies (re)introduce democracy to defeated axis countries. Sheri berman offers a critique of the neo-tocquevillian argument. Argues germany civil societies which nazis used to seize power. Reductionist (tying events back to a single cause) Middle class fear of bolshevism and violence. Prussian elite and hindenburg thought hitler could be controlled. Early successful democracies were england, france, and united states. In case of france, removal of catholic church from power. Fundamentally important as liberal democratic ideas are new. Replace monarch and aristocracy with rule by the people. American democracy not fully secured until civil war.
