Democratization: A Thematic Approach

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Compare any two political maps, one from the early twentieth century and one from the present, and you will notice that the world now contains more democracies than it used to. How and why did democracy spread around the world How do we recognize democracies when we see them And what does the future of democracy look like This book shows you how to define and measure democracy, and to identify what democracies have in common. It evaluates important recent trends in democratization and the challenges that face it including: - Democratic decay - Populism, authoritarianism and the far right - Threats posed by global terrorism and sectarian violence - The rise of illiberal democracies - Declining civic participation. Analysing economic development, education, industrialization and other factors, Democratization shows you the internal political, economic and social conditions that help or hinder democratization. Looking at globalization, political aid, military intervention and the neighbourhood-effect, it also explains how external factors put pressure on democratic reform. Covering key theories, such as modernization and democratic peace theory, and with case studies from Indonesia to the Zapatista movement, this is the ideal text for those studying democratization for the first time.

Reviews

A clear and powerful update on debates about democratization, driven by high-quality research and a deep understanding of the complex issues at stake. * Gerry Stoker, University of Southampton, UK *
A comprehensive introduction to the study of democratization. A systematic overview of the main drivers of democratization, and an up-to-date assessment of its achievements and limitations. * Francisco Panizza, Professor in Latin American and Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK *
An ideal primer for those who are new to the study of democratization and an elegant account of contemporary debates for readers already working on the subject Both authoritative and forward-looking. * Rod Dacombe, Reader in Politics, Kings College London, UK *
A major contribution to teaching in the field of democratization Until now I had never been able to find a suitable textbook. I will be thrilled to use this book in my own courses in the future. * Lisa Sundstrom, Professor of Political Science, The University of British Columbia, Canada *

Author Bio

Stephen Noakes is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, NZ Chris Wilson is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, NZ