Democratisation Process
Senior 3 · History and Citizenship
Democratisation Process
Lesson 1 of 3
20 min
In April 1994 South Africa held its first election in which people of all races could vote. Millions queued for hours, many of them voting for the first time in their lives. Among them was Nelson Mandela, then aged 75, who had been released in February 1990 after twenty-seven years in prison. A month later he became President.
Analysing the source. A photograph of one man voting stands for a whole process: the end of apartheid, a new constitution and new institutions. Voting is the most visible sign of democracy, but it is not the whole of it. This lesson defines democratisation, the process by which a country becomes more democratic, and the indicators used to measure it.
Definition
Democratisation: the process by which a political system becomes more democratic: power comes from the people, citizens' rights are protected and leaders are accountable.
Indicator: a sign that can be observed or measured, used to judge how far a process has gone.
Multiparty system: a system in which several political parties may legally compete for power. One-party state: a state where only one party is allowed.
Civil society: organisations that are independent of the state, such as associations, cooperatives, religious organisations, trade unions and NGOs.
Good governance: governing in a way that is accountable, transparent, effective, inclusive and follows the rule of law.
| Indicator | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Free, fair and regular elections | Universal suffrage and a secret ballot; an independent electoral commission; results accepted by all sides |
| Political pluralism | Several parties or candidates can compete; opposition voices can be heard |
| Separation of powers | Legislature, executive and judiciary check each other; courts are independent |
| Rule of law and human rights | Everyone, including leaders, obeys the law; rights are protected by courts |
| Free media and civil society | Journalists, associations, churches and mosques, unions and NGOs can speak and organise |
| Citizen participation | People take part beyond voting: local councils, consultations, petitions, community work |
| Accountability and transparency | Leaders report on what they do; public money is audited; corruption is punished |
| Inclusion and equality | Women, young people, people with disabilities and minorities are represented |
Table 1. Indicators of democratisation. Written by Ganzaa from the principles of democracy you studied in Senior 1.
Figure 1. A simple model used by political scientists. Real countries move at different speeds and sometimes go back.
After independence many African states became one-party states or military regimes (Unit 7). Around 1990 a wave of change swept the continent:
Many countries adopted new constitutions and held multiparty elections in the early 1990s. The results varied: in some, democratic institutions grew stronger over time; in others, violence or conflict followed. Democratisation is a process, not a single event.
Worked example: applying indicators
Question: Imagine a country (an illustrative example) that holds an election every five years, but where the courts must obey the President and newspapers that criticise the government are closed. Using indicators, how democratic is it? (6 marks)
Indicator met: regular elections are held.
Indicators not met: there is no separation of powers, because the courts are not independent; there is no free media, because critics are silenced.
Judgement: elections alone do not make a democracy. The country has some features of democracy but has not consolidated it, because citizens cannot hold leaders accountable between elections.
Tip
Use several indicators, never one. When asked "how democratic?", check at least three indicators from Table 1 and give evidence for each.
Warning
Democracy is not only elections, and not only one model. Countries organise democracy in different ways, for example by direct or representative forms, or through home-grown institutions. Judge a country by the indicators and the evidence, not by whether it copies another country.
Which indicator of democratisation do you think matters most for young people, and why? How can students take part in decision-making at school, for example through a school council?
Practice
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
