So is democracy not the best political system after all? The
Economist read by ngela Santos March 2014
Slide 2
We believed that democracy would be the best political system
and would eventually spread all across the globe. As well as
letting people say what they think and decide on their future. On
average, democracies are richer, are less likely to go to war, are
more effective at combating corruption. In the year 2000, there
were 120 democratic nations (Freedom House). 63% of the world's
population lived in a democracy.
Slide 3
In the second half of the 20th century, democracies took hold
against a backdrop of struggle and conquest: 1. in Germany,
traumatised by Naziism 2. in India, with the world's largest
population of poor people 3. in South Africa, scarred by apartheid
4. in Africa and Asia, in the aftermath of decolonisation 5. in
Greece (1974), Spain (1975), Argentina (1983), Brazil (1985) and
Chile (1989) after the fall of their autocratic regimes 6. in
Central Europe, following the collapse of the Soviet Union In 2000,
the American NGO Freedom House house said that there were 120
democratic nations; 63% of the world's population lived in a
democracy.
Slide 4
Old doubts about democracy are now making a return and earning
increasing respect. Three main reasons: 1.the success of the new
Chinese model 2.the direction in which the emerging democracies are
heading 3.the way the old democracies are functioning. Although 40%
of the world's population (more than ever) live in countries where
there are free and fair elections, the advance of democracy has
come to a halt or even begun to recede. The failure of the
democratic system first became apparent in the year 2000.
Slide 5
The new Chinese model The Chinese Communist Party has succeeded
in making more economic progress than the democratic world: at the
height of its growth, America managed to double its standard of
living every 30 years; in the last 30 years, China has doubled its
standard of living every 10 years. Larry Summers, Harvard
University China has been able to rapidly resolve public issues
that western democracies can take decades to resolve. For example:
85% of Chinese say they are very satisfied with the direction their
country is taking 31% of Americans do too... Pew Survey of Global
Attitudes, 2013 in two years, China extended its pension system to
240 million rural citizens (many more than the total number of
people covered by the American public pension system).
Slide 6
promotion of political office-holders on the basis of their
capacity to achieve goals, greater attention paid to public
opinion, paradoxically as a result of the obsession with control
(imprisonment of dissidents and censure of online discussions). The
new Chinese model tight control by the Communist Party constant
effort to recruit new talent to the Party, change in political
leader- ship every 10 years,
Slide 7
The Chinese intellectual elite claims that the Chinese system
is more efficient than democracy and less likely to suffer
impasses. "Many developing countries introduced the western
political system and values and are now living in disorder and
chaos. China provides an alternative model." Wang Jisi, Peking
University Some countries in Africa (Rwanda), the Middle East
(Dubai) and south-east Asia (Vietnam) appear to be tempted by the
Chinese alternative. The new Chinese model "Democracy is destroying
the West, especially America, because it institutionalises the
impasse, plays down decision-making and produces second-rate
presidents, like George Bush Junior." Zhang Weiwei, Fudan
University "Democracy complicates simple things and lets
smooth-talking politicians trick people." Yu Keping, Peking
University
Slide 8
The emerging democracies In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak was deposed in
2011 but after Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, was elected, he
used the democratic system to obtain almost unlimited power, invade
the state of Brothers and guarantee a permanent Islamic majority;
in 2013, the army overthrew Egypt's first democratically elected
president. In Syria, war is raging. In Libya, chaos reigns.
Unsuccessful efforts
Slide 9
In Russia, Boris Yeltsin set the democratic ball rolling, but
his successor Putin destroyed the substance of democracy
(dominating the press and imprisoning his opponents), while still
keeping up appearances: everyone can vote, as long as Putin wins.
In Venezuela, Ukraine, Argentina, etc, other travesties followed. A
travesty is worse than giving up because it discredits the system
more. The emerging democracies Travesties
Slide 10
In South Africa, the same party has been in power since 1994.
In Turkey, corruption and autocracy appear to be replacing the
previous combination of prosperity, moderate Islam and democracy.
In Thailand, Bangladesh and Cambodia, the opposition parties
boycotted recent elections or refused to accept the results. The
emerging democracies Examples of regression
Slide 11
The young democracies are repeating the same mistakes the old
ones made: Young democracies Old mistakes excessive spending on
agreeable, short-term measures and insufficient long-term
investment; political systems taken over by interest groups and
undermined by anti-democratic behaviour. In Brazil, civil servants
retire at the age of 53, but little has been done to modernise the
airport network. In India, constituencies are well paid, but invest
little in infrastructure.
Slide 12
Democracy does not bloom spontaneously when it is planted.
Democracy is a practice with cultural roots. Democracy needs
support from institutions that take a long time to build. In almost
every western country, the right to vote came long after
sophisticated political systems, powerful civil services,
constitutional rights, societies that valued individual rights and
independent judicial systems. Lessons to be learned
Slide 13
The system's faults are increasingly apparent and
disappointment with politicians is growing. Old democracies
Slide 14
The 20072008 financial crisis revealed weaknesses in our
western political systems, such as the debt and subsequent bail-out
of bankers using taxpayers' money. Old democracies Trust undermined
When no arms were found, the justification given for the war with
Iraq became the defence of democracy (George Bush Jr), which was
seen as an excuse for American imperialism.
Slide 15
The democracies in Europe and the USA are now identified with
debt and dysfunction. In the United States, democracy has become
associated with impasse (they cannot even pass a budget, let alone
plan for the future...); manipulation of the ways votes are
counted; the influence of lobbies in politics, i.e. democracy is
being sold and the rich have more power than the poor. Old
democracies The models
Slide 16
The democracies in Europe and the USA are now identified with
debt and dysfunction. Old democracies The models In the EU,
democracy can be temporarily suspended: the decision to introduce
the euro was taken by technocrats (only Denmark and Sweden said no
in referendums); the efforts to obtain popular support for the
Treaty of Lisbon ceased when voting went in the opposite direction;
during the euro-zone crisis, Greece and Italy were forced to
replace democratically elected leaders with technocrats; the
European Parliament, created to remedy Europe's democratic
shortcomings, is ignored and scorned.
Slide 17
National policy depends increasingly on global markets and
international organisations, so a country's politicians are not
fully in control of keeping promises. There are supranational
problems, such as climate change and tax evasion, that cannot be
resolved at national level. In the western world, democracy is
under pressure from above, below and within. Pressure from above:
globalisation To respond to globalisation, politicians have handed
over part of their power to non- elected technocrats (e.g.
independent central banks).
Slide 18
Demands for power from regions leaning towards independence
(Catalonia and Scotland), Indian states and American counties.
Imposition by organisations such as NGOs and lobbies. The Internet,
which facilitates unrest and makes political voting seem like an
anachronism. Pressure from below: internal powers
Slide 19
Increasing provocation in the form of voters' protests: the
candidate who came to power promising to be openly corrupt
(Iceland); the comedian who obtained a quarter of the votes cast
(Italy). Pressure from within: trends The habit of incurring debt
to give the voters what they want, in the short term, and
neglecting long-term investment. Decreasing participation: less
party members (20% in the UK in 1950, 1% now) rising abstention
rate (in 49 democracies, abstention rates grew by 10% between
1980/84 and 2007/13. over half of voters lack confidence in the
government (according to a survey conducted in seven European
countries, 2012) 62% are of the opinion that politicians lie
constantly (YouGov, 2012).
Slide 20
With China's progress and the problems in the western
democracies, America and Europe have lost their position as role
model for the rest of the world. The euro-elites plunder the
elected leaders who oppose tax orthodoxy
Slide 21
The capitalist elite in India complains that India's chaotic
democracy produces abysmal infrastructures, but the authoritarian
system in China produces motorways, magnificent airports and
high-speed trains. The democracies in the USA and Europe are no
longer role models for the rest of the world. The Chinese model is
becoming tempting.
Slide 22
China continues to represent a credible threat to the idea that
democracy is a superior system and will eventually prevail.
Although the Chinese government elite is constantly increasing its
wealth and is likely to endure; although growth in China has slowed
down (from 10% to less than 8%) and is likely to slow down even
further,