POLSC 135 1st Edition Lecture 25 Outline of Last Lecture Democratic Transitions Outline of Current Lecture Democratic Transitions cont Current Lecture I Top Down Transitions Here democratic transitions result from a policy of liberalization on the part of the government This policy of liberalization is often meant to solidify the dictatorship but sometimes inadvertently leads to democracy Many transitions to democracy are preceded by a period of liberalization The period of liberalization often results from a split in the authoritarian regime between hard liners and soft liners Typically the regime has come under some form of pressure due to declining economic conditions or social unrest and the soft liners have come to prominence or power The soft liners must decide whether to open the political regime through a process of liberalization or to stick with the status quo Liberalization entails a controlled opening of the political space that might include The formation of political parties Holding elections Writing a constitution Opening a legislature Establishing a judiciary and the like The goal of the liberalization process is to create a broadened dictatorship not democracy The strategy of the leadership is either co opting or dividing the opposition groups These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture It is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute End Lecture
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