People again discuss that certain countries can no longer be considered democracies (Hungary? US?)
Under which conditions do countries qualify as a 'democracy' and what's the alternative category called?
This thread links to a seminal piece on 'electoral authoritarianism'
Under which conditions do countries qualify as a 'democracy' and what's the alternative category called?
This thread links to a seminal piece on 'electoral authoritarianism'
One line of disagreement is whether to distinguish countries by the *degree* of democratic quality.
While these fine-grained distinctions have value, in his piece Schedler makes the point that "[some] regimes are not less democratic than democracies, but plainly undemocratic."
While these fine-grained distinctions have value, in his piece Schedler makes the point that "[some] regimes are not less democratic than democracies, but plainly undemocratic."
This raises the question about the essence of what a democracy is.
According to Schedler, having a choice is at the heart of the democratic idea.
Choosing is institutionalized via elections.
However, both plainly democratic and plainly undemocratic countries conduct elections.
According to Schedler, having a choice is at the heart of the democratic idea.
Choosing is institutionalized via elections.
However, both plainly democratic and plainly undemocratic countries conduct elections.
Therefore, elections are necessary but no sufficient conditions for a democracy.
Schedler argues, how elections are conducted distinguishes "electoral democracies" (a diminished type of liberal democracies) and "electoral authoritarianism".
Schedler argues, how elections are conducted distinguishes "electoral democracies" (a diminished type of liberal democracies) and "electoral authoritarianism".
Again, how to we distinguish these two types?
Schedler suggests to "rely on the guiding idea that democratic elections are mechanisms of social choice under conditions of freedom and equality."
Schedler suggests to "rely on the guiding idea that democratic elections are mechanisms of social choice under conditions of freedom and equality."
Specifically, Schedler proposes 7 conditions each of which is considered necessary to qualify as an electoral democracy.
So, these criteria are the bare minimum one can rely on when contemplating whether s certain country is still a democracy country.
So, these criteria are the bare minimum one can rely on when contemplating whether s certain country is still a democracy country.
The implications for contemporary politics are obvious.
Here is one cite from his 2002 piece about "informal disenfranchisement".
Here is one cite from his 2002 piece about "informal disenfranchisement".
