Democracys decline and the case of kenya council on. Apr 04, 20 individuals were inspired to protest for personal reasons, but through social media they acted collectively. Did digital media really cause the arab spring, or is it an important factor of the story behind what might become democracy s fourth wave. Portugal, spain, and greece all democratized in the mid1970s. Democracys fourth wave examines not only the unexpected evolution of events during the arab spring, but the longer history of desperateand creativedigital activism through the arab world. Huntington journal of democracy, volume 2, number 2. An evaluation of the latest theories there is some ambiguity in approaching the concept of democracy wave, especially when we talk about. Theories of democracy there is four basic theories of democracy. Jul 25, 20 the fourth wave of democratization the fourth wave would follow samuel p. Since the crumbling of the berlin wall in 1989 and the collapse of the soviet union in 1991, most of the twentyeight new states have abandoned communism, but only nine of these have entered the ranks of liberal democracies. Jan 01, 20 did digital media really cause the arab spring, or is it an important factor of the story behind what might become democracy s fourth wave. Includes unique digital data collected during and after the events and makes use of new fuzzy set methodology. Analysis, huntington provides neither a theory nor a history of the third wave, but.
Democracy s fourth wave examines not only the unexpected evolution of events during the arab spring, but the longer history of desperateand creativedigital activism through the arab world. In the third wave between 1989 and 1995, many remnants of the soviet union and failed authoritarian regimes in other parts of the world turned themselves into variously functional electoral democracies. Events in kyrgyzstan click here for a useful bbc backgrounder, combined with previous events in lebanon. The first wave began in the early 19th century across north. The general response of democratic theorists is to move towardmoral relativism. The term, waves of democratization, popularized by huntington 1991, can be conceptualized in at least three ways. Early in a long wave, or at or near the end of a short one. Huntingtons historical analysis of the global democratic process. Democracys third wave national endowment for democracy. Nations like kenya that were supposed to be part of a global fourth wave of democracy following the third wave in. And if the third wave comes to a halt, will it be followed by a significant third reverse wave eliminating many of democracy s gains in the 1970s and 1980s. Democracys fourth wave digital media and the arab spring oxford studies in digital politics 9780199936977. Democratization in the late twentieth century, he wrote an article summarizing his analysis in the spring 1991 issue of the journal of democracy.
Request pdf is there a fourth wave of democracy or not. Samuel huntington described this global shift as democracys third wave in an article published in 1991, which was later developed in a book. Oxford university pess r s i a deptment ar of the university of oxford. The gist of his theory is that there have been three basic periods of democratization that have occurred throughout the world throughout history. Samuel huntington third wave of democratization pdf soviet reaction, russian reform. The first wave began in the early 19th century across north america and western. It has been 15 years since the last wave of democratization. Nations like kenya that were supposed to be part of a global fourth wave of democracy following the third wave in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Philip howard is an associate professor in the department of communication at the university of washington. It is a phenomenon of politics that similar events often happen. In this context, mcfaul 2002 discusses the fourth wave of transition to democracy and how it was more stable in societies with most unequal power distributions. Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after theyve told you what you think it is you want to hear. An unlikely network of citizens used digital media to start a cascade of social protest that ultimately toppled four of the world s most entrenched dictators. Huntington journal of democracy, volume 2, number 2, spring 1991, pp. Muzammil m hussain in 2011, the international community watched as a shockingly unlikely community of citizens toppled three of the world s most entrenched dictators. Samuel huntington defined three waves of democracy in his book the third wave. Conclusions of the council of europe forum for the future of democracy, june 2007 what is democracy. In political science, a wave of democracy refers to a major surge of democracy in history. The fourth wave of democracy and dictatorship noncooperative transitions in the postcommunist world by michael mcfaul the transition from communism in europe and the former soviet union has only sometimes led to democracy. Request pdf the fourth wave of democracy and dictatorship.
Events in kyrgyzstan click here for a useful bbc backgrounder, combined with previous events in lebanon, palestine, iraq, ukraine, afghanistan and georgia. The two most decisive factors affecting the future consolidation and expansion of democracy will be economic development and political leadership. A digital media and the arab springa was published under a modified creative commons license with oxford university press. Though the arab spring, the changes in myanmar, and the tumult in many african countries have captured the worlds attention in the past two years, in reality democracy is going into reverse worldwide. Warning that the third democratic wave would not last forever, huntingtons 1991 article predicted a fourth democratic wave occurring sometime in the 21st century. Thus they are best left not to principled judgments by publicphilosophers, but to adjustments made by elected officials who. And if the third wave comes to a halt, will it be followed by a significant third reverse wave eliminating many of democracys gains in the 1970s and 1980s.
Huntington is eaton professor of tile science of government and director of the john m. The fourth wave of democratization the fourth wave would follow samuel p. The fourth wave weakens kenyas turbulence is hardly unique. Oii democracys fourth wave digital media and the arab. Presents new causal theory of digital media and political change in the arab spring. Muzammil m hussain in 2011, the international community watched as a shockingly unlikely community of citizens toppled three of the worlds most entrenched dictators. Huntington which outlines the significance of a third wave of. Samuel huntington third wave of democratization pdf. Each of these approaches to the concept carries distinct theoretical implications and generates somewhat different historical.
Noncooperative transitions in the postcommunist world the transition from communism in europe and the former soviet union has only. Did digital media really cause the arab spring, or is it an important factor of the story behind what might become democracys fourth wave. Individuals were inspired to protest for personal reasons, but through social media they acted collectively. He directs the world information access project and the project on information technology and political islam. Digital media and the arab spring oxford studies in digital politics by howard, philip n.
Democracys fourth wave digital media and the arab spring. The first wave during the 19th century, democracy was begun in western europe and north america. According to huntington, the adoption of democracy happened in three waves. Democracys fourth wave examines not only the unexpected evolution of events during the arab spring, but the longer history of desperateand. Its principles and achievement publication prepared and edited by the interparliamentary union texts contributed by. A oxford has provided aa publication quality pdf of first three chapters for download. Mans capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but mans inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary democracy is a device that insures we. May 22, 2011 a similar wave of democratic transitions in the arab world was finally possible to imagine, particularly given the extent to which previous transformations had been regional in scope. An evaluation of the latest theories there is some ambiguity in approaching the concept of. Mihajlo mihajlov soviet reaction, russian reform gail w. Oxford english for information technology english for specific english for specific purposes world, issn 16823257, issue 43, vol. May 25, 20 theories of democracy there is four basic theories of democracy.
Cherif bassiouni general rapporteur, david beetham, justice m. Democracy it is vital to promote a culture of democracy and human rights among children and young people, as attitudes and behaviour are shaped at an early stage and can be decisive in determining their future involvement in public a. The transition from communism in europe and the former soviet union has only sometimes produced a transition to democracy. Popular protests for democracy in north africa and the middle east.
Samuel huntington described this global shift as democracys third. Democracys fourth wave institute for middle east studies. It furthers the universitys objective of excellence in research. A similar wave of democratic transitions in the arab world was finally possible to imagine, particularly given the extent to which previous transformations had been regional in scope. Huntington, a political scientist at harvard university in his article published in the journal of democracy and further expounded in his 1991 book the third wave. An unlikely network of citizens used digital media to start a cascade of social protest that ultimately toppled four of the worlds most entrenched dictators.