.png&w=1920&q=75)
🗳️AP Comparative Government
🗳️ap comparative government review
1.4 Democratization
Verified for the 2025 AP Comparative Government exam•7 min read•Last Updated on March 9, 2025
1.4 - Democratization
The goal for you in this topic is simple: describe and measure (remember Topic 1.1) how regimes include more of the 7️⃣ seven characteristics of democracy into their political systems. Both authoritarian 👑 and democratic 🙋🏾♀️ regimes can democratize.
Often this is not a linear process—sometimes regimes take a small step toward democratization, and then a giant leap back to authoritarianism. Democratization can involve any of the characteristics of democracy, but may not include them all!
Characteristics of Democracy🙋🏾♀️
Need a reminder of what those 7️⃣ characteristics are?
- Free and Fair elections.
- Competitive elections.
- Government-developed policies and procedures that guarantee due process, accountability, and transparency in decision making.
- Political and civil rights are possessed by all.
- Independent judiciary.
- Elected government officials who exercise authority over the government.
- Rule of Law.
Applying Them to Each Country of Study
1. Free and Fair Elections
Examples: Mexico 🇲🇽, Nigeria 🇳🇬, and The United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Mexico and Nigeria have transitioned from authoritarian systems to emerging democracies by improving their electoral processes:
- Multiparty Competition has expanded, giving voters more political options.
- Independent Election Committees have been created to reduce voter fraud and ensure fair election results.
- Both countries have adjusted district boundaries and vote thresholds to better reflect their populations.
- Have established Proportional Representation (an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them, remember this is different from winner-takes-all, which is what we have in America- if you win the popular vote, you win all the votes)
- Even established democracies like the United Kingdom have reformed over time. Before 1918, only men could vote. The Representation of the People Act (1918) allowed women over 30 who owned property to vote, and the Equal Franchise Act (1928) expanded voting rights to all women over 21.
2. Competitive Elections
Examples: Mexico 🇲🇽, Nigeria 🇳🇬, and Russia 🇷🇺
- Mexico provides a strong example of improved electoral competition. For 71 years, the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) dominated Mexican politics, effectively controlling elections. Since the 2000s, power has shifted between multiple parties, reflecting progress in democratization.
- The PRI hasn’t won an election since 2000
- Nigeria has seen similar improvements, with increasing opportunities for opposition parties to win.
- Russia, however, presents a different case. While elections exist, no opposition party has successfully challenged United Russia’s control. This makes Russia an Illiberal Democracy — elections occur, but they lack fairness, transparency, and true competition.
- In other words, other parties CANT win
3. Government Transparency
Examples: Mexico 🇲🇽 and Nigeria 🇳🇬
- Both countries have passed National Freedom of Information Acts to increase government accountability.
- These laws allow citizens to request information about government decisions, helping to reduce corruption and strengthen public trust.
- While Mexico and Nigeria still face challenges, this step demonstrates their commitment to democratic reforms.
4. Political and Civil Rights
Examples: Mexico 🇲🇽 and Nigeria 🇳🇬
- Both Mexico and Nigeria have legal systems that protect citizens' rights and liberties.
- However, enforcement can be inconsistent. For example:
- In Nigeria, violence between religious groups in certain regions has severely impacted citizens’ ability to exercise their rights.
- Both countries still face social and political inequalities, but legal frameworks continue to improve.
5. Independent Judiciary
Example: China 🇨🇳
- China’s judicial system remains heavily controlled by the ruling party.
- With a 99.3% conviction rate, China's courts overwhelmingly rule in favor of the government. This lack of judicial independence reflects authoritarian influence.
6. Elected Government Officials with Authority
Examples: China 🇨🇳 and Russia 🇷🇺
- In China and Russia, elected officials hold authority — but this power is heavily concentrated within the ruling party.
- In Russia, President Vladimir Putin and the United Russia Party control legislative and judicial branches, preventing meaningful opposition.
- In China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holds similar dominance, ensuring the party maintains strict control over all aspects of government.
7. Rule of Law
Examples: Mexico 🇲🇽, Nigeria 🇳🇬, and Russia 🇷🇺
- The Rule of Law requires that laws are clear, consistently enforced, and apply equally to all citizens.
- In Mexico and Nigeria, electoral systems have improved, allowing voters to influence political outcomes.
- In Russia, elections lack credibility — United Russia consistently dominates, and opposition parties struggle to gain traction. This weakens the Rule of Law by preventing genuine political competition.
Democratization is a process, and no country perfectly embodies all seven characteristics. By comparing these traits across nations, you'll better understand how different governments balance power, rights, and accountability.
💡 Helpful Tip: Use resources like Freedom House to explore democratization trends worldwide and track how different countries strengthen or weaken these characteristics over time.
Overview of Topics 1.3-1.4
🔑 Key Characteristics of Democratization-Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
| Country | Rule of Law | Free and Fair Elections | Government control of Media | Independence of Branches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Established Democracy | House of Commons directly elected by the public voted against airstrikes in Syria (2013) | In 2010 the Conservative Party won the House of Commons after 13 straight years of control by the Labour Party | Controls some media outlets, but allows private media and media to be critical of the government. | Commons votes against the PM at various times, like our example in Syria. |
| Mexico Emerging Democracy | In 2000 the PRI lost the Presidential election to PAN candidate and relinquished power | In 2018 President Nieto who was constitutionally prevented from running again, saw his party relinquish control to an opposing party | Controls some media outlets, but allows private media and media to be critical of the government. However, there has been quite a bit of violence against members of the media | Supreme Court is able to review the Constitutionality of laws |
| Nigeria Emerging Democracy | Nigerian legislature directly elected by the people rejected the President’s bid to add a 3rd term to the presidency | In 2015, Nigeria saw its first transfer of power between parties through a presidential election | Controls some media outlets, but allows private media and media to be critical of the government. | The legislature votes against the President, like in our example of adding a 3rd term to the presidency |
| Russia Authoritarian | Invasion and annexation of Crimea | Putin has won every election in the first round of voting in each of his elections | Regulates the internet to limit dissent, controls most of the media outlets, violence against reporters common | National legislature is merely a rubber stamp for expansion of Executive Power |
| Iran Authoritarian | Election protestors put down violently | Supreme Leader is not directly elected by the people. Supreme Leader directly and indirectly appoints all members of the Guardian Council | Blocks internet content to limit dissent, controls most of the media outlets | National legislature is merely a rubber stamp for expansion of Supreme Leader’s Power |
| China Authoritarian | President Xi ends Constitutional term limits for presidency | No direct elections of high ranking governmental officials, appointed from within the party. | Blocks internet content to limit dissent, controls most of the media outlets | National legislature is merely a rubber stamp for expansion of Executive Power |
Democracy: Advancements and Regression
Movements to democratize have been taking place in all different places across the world. But, democratic erosion is also a significant issue in the modern political landscape. It is important to recognize not only the type of democracy a country has, but also what factors contribute or disrupt its democratic system. 🫂
- Democratic Consolidation is the process in which a country adopts and reinforces its democracy (in other words, the process by which a country democratizes)
- Some ways in which a nation can achieve that is through maturing its election rules, emphasizing the separation of powers, and protecting civil liberties.
- Democratic Consolidation makes it harder for non-democratic/authoritarian forms of government to take place.
- Democratic Backslide can happen when the government adopts policies or rules that impede democratic elections to take place.
- Poverty has also been identified as an obstacle to democracies because it inhibits people from participating in the democratic process and having access to information.
- Corruption can highly inhibit democracy. However, a strong and independent judiciary can control it by reinforcing and consolidating the rights and liberties of people.
Movements towards democratization across the world have been enhanced by the democratic waves 🌊. The political scientists Samuel Huntington characterizes the "Waves of Democratization" according to the following:
- First Democratic Wave - began through the origins of democracy. There is no established date as it was established overtime.
- Second democratic wave - began through the allied victory after WWII 🗡. It went on until the 1960s.
- Third democratic wave - characterized by the defeat of dictatorships all across Latin America in the 1970s. The recent turnover in Mexico, with the defeat of the single-party supremacy, is also part of this wave.
⭐
Remember: The most significant part of this chapter is understanding the processes of democracy. The key questions you need to be able to answer are: What makes a nation democratic? What are the goals of democracy?
Key Terms to Review (24)
Accountability: Accountability refers to the responsibility of individuals or organizations to answer for their actions, decisions, and performance.
Characteristics of Democracy: The essential qualities or features that define a democratic system, such as popular sovereignty (power rests with the people), political equality (equal voting rights), and protection of individual rights.
Civil Liberties: Civil Liberties are fundamental rights and freedoms granted to individuals by law, typically protected by a constitution or bill of rights. These liberties include freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and privacy.
Competitive elections: Competitive elections refer to the process of selecting political leaders through a fair and open competition where multiple candidates or parties have a realistic chance of winning.
Corruption: Corruption refers to the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain or the misuse of public resources by individuals in positions of authority. It involves bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, and other unethical practices that undermine the integrity and fairness of institutions.
Democratic backslide: Democratic backslide refers to the gradual erosion or reversal of democratic principles and institutions within a country. It involves a decline in political rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Democratic consolidation: Democratic consolidation refers to the process by which a newly established democracy becomes more stable and institutionalized over time. It involves strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring the rule of law, and fostering a culture of democratic values among citizens.
Democratization: Democratization refers to the process of transitioning a government or society from an authoritarian or non-democratic system to one that is democratic, where power is held by the people and there are free and fair elections.
Due Process: Due process refers to fair treatment under the law that every individual is entitled to. It ensures that legal procedures are followed before any punishment or deprivation of rights occurs.
Elected government officials: Elected government officials are individuals who are chosen by the people through a voting process to hold positions of power and make decisions on behalf of the public.
Equal Franchise Act: The Equal Franchise Act refers to a law that grants equal voting rights to all citizens, regardless of their gender.
First Democratic Wave: The first democratic wave refers to a period in history, mainly during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many countries transitioned from authoritarian rule to democratic systems.
Free and Fair Elections: Free and fair elections refer to a democratic process where all eligible citizens have the right to vote without coercion or manipulation, and where the electoral system is transparent and impartial.
Illiberal Democracy: Illiberal democracy refers to a form of government where elections take place but there are significant restrictions on individual rights, limited checks on executive power, and weak rule-of-law institutions. It combines elements of both democracy and authoritarianism.
Independent judiciary: An independent judiciary refers to a branch of government that is separate from other branches (such as the executive) and has the authority to interpret laws impartially. It acts as a check on potential abuses of power by ensuring fair trials and upholding constitutional rights.
National Freedom of Information Acts: National Freedom of Information Acts are laws or regulations that grant individuals the right to access information held by public authorities. These acts promote transparency and accountability in government by allowing citizens to request and receive information about governmental activities.
Political and civil rights: Political and civil rights refer to the fundamental liberties and freedoms that individuals possess as members of a society. These rights include freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and the right to vote.
PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional): The PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) is a Mexican political party that dominated Mexican politics for much of the 20th century. It was known for its authoritarian rule and control over various branches of government.
Proportional Representation: Proportional representation is an electoral system in which seats in a legislative body are allocated based on the proportion of votes each political party receives.
Representation of the People Act: The Representation of the People Act is legislation enacted by governments to define electoral procedures, such as voter eligibility requirements, constituency boundaries, campaign finance regulations, etc., in order to ensure fair representation in democratic elections.
Rule of Law: The rule of law refers to the principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced. It ensures that no one is above the law.
Separation of Powers: Separation of powers refers to the division of governmental responsibilities among different branches (typically executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Each branch has its own distinct powers and functions.
Transparency: Transparency refers to the openness and accessibility of information, allowing individuals to have a clear understanding of processes, actions, and decisions.
Waves of democratization: Waves of democratization refer to periods when multiple countries transition from authoritarian regimes towards democratic systems within a relatively short span of time. These waves often occur due to global events or regional influences that inspire demands for political reform.