Analysis of Democratization - Research Paper Example

 Analysis of Democratization Democratization is a systematic process and perhaps transition that has to start from one point and expand to encompass other aspects of society. The inception point of the greater democratization is at the personal or individuals levels. For democracy to start at the individual’s level, numerous aspects and elements of freedom need consideration. For effective democratization, there must be some elements or space of allowing self-expression. Freedom for self-expression is a sure of empowering individuals expresses themselves in a free manner without restrictions or any forms of threats. Freedom of self-expression has great relation to the freedom of speech, together of which enables individuals to air their views and criticize unethical proceedings in the given society. Freedom of self-expression is in fact the foundation of every other form of democracy (Camp 16). With self-expression, individual are able to rebuke tyrannical leadership and rules that apply immense force in handling citizens’ affairs. Freedom to self-expression is an empowering tool to enable the individual citizens overcomes any form of discrimination that has direct or indirect effect to their personal developments. Inglehart and Christian describe that with freedom to self-expression, individuals can also raise alarm over economic inequalities that are particularly detriment to their individual developments and society as a whole (20). Freedom to self-expression enable individuals discloses any forms of corruption that occurring in a given society and threatening to corrode the resources of the victim society. Developmental process of the individuals’ democracy also requires assurance of freedom of association. Freedom of association empowers individuals to decide and interrelate with groups of their individual choice. As illustrated by Camp, freedom of association helps individuals form strategic movements tasked with purposes of ensuring collective representation of ideas and views of a given group that feels underserved and unrecognized by the ruling authority in a given society (21). Furthermore, freedom of association as tool towards democratization helps individuals with lower say in a given society team up and form groups capable of challenging a given repressive rule or leadership in the particular society. Individual democratization process that defines the whole democracy has to encompass and cover religious rights (Inglehart and Christian 24). Allowing individuals’ freedom of religion ensures spiritual development of the given individuals in the most appropriate direction. Freedom of religion is a tributary to freedom of association as it advocates for allowing individuals initiate and interrelate with groups of their personal choice. The democratization process also has to take into consideration the economic equality among individuals of a given country. Economic issues and gaps have been the epicenter of wars in various societies and particularly among individuals. Ensuring economic equality will empower individuals to have a say on the manner of handling of a country’s resources for the best of developing the entire society or community. Institutional democratization stems and develops from individual democratization. Democracy in institutions starts with freedom of self-expression among constituent employees and parties. With self-expression, individuals within a given institution have the power to share their views and even spell out dissatisfaction with managerial techniques and processes (Krishna 16). Allowing freedom of self-expression to individuals, institutions are likely to benefit from innovation and creative ideas exhibited by individuals in the particular organization. Institutional democracy has to base on the freedom of association among the constituent employees and parties. Institutional democracy also needs to take into consideration gender issues. Many organizations have faced problems compounded by disparities in gender biasness and inequality. For effective democratization of institutions, gender equality is a necessity and of utmost requirement. Democratization process of institution also has to be considering various aspects of societal diversities. Institutional democracy must involve acceptance and accommodation of the various religious groups that exist within the specific organization (Krishna 18). Furthermore, the process of institutional democratization has to encompass free and fair grounds for action of difference races and at equal measures. Moreover, institutional democracy has to take into consideration the linguistic differences that exist within the given institution and above all acknowledge and accommodate the differences in manner that it eliminates stifles. Transparency and accountability is another critical process deserving consideration in defining democracy in institutions. The design of any countries constitution is fundamental in determining and dictating the democratization process of individuals and institutions. The main reason as to this speculation is that constitution usually enjoys high regards and national respect as the supreme law and everything inscribed needs following to the later. Most constitutions used in various countries across the world allow no space for any force to breach the provisions in the given constitution. The design of the constitution also matters in ensuring the development of democracy considering the difficulty most constitutions pose in any case individualistic desire to manipulate the law for individual benefit and favor. Designing a constitution in a way that it clearly spells out the main corners of and basics of democracy provides an elaborate framework for ensuring total practice the rights allowed to individuals. A properly designed constitution that aims at promoting and facilitating the development of democracy has to include in its provisions all the basic human rights and civil liberties. The best example of well-designed constitution that has seen the development and strengthening of democracy is the American Constitution. As portrayed by Pederson, the American Constitution clearly defines the limits and scopes of human rights and civil liberties and the need to protect such rights (10). The design of the American Constitution allows individuals freedom of expression only when protracted in positive manner away from insults and in adherence to other bills of rights. The freedom of speech has seen the American people maintain crucial check on the government and to ensure that nothing is done the detriment of the society. Freedom of speech empowers individuals to question every move of the government and the top administrators in the country, and ensuring total accountability in the system of leadership. Still on the design of the American Constitution, the religious rights are clear in the Bill of Right. The Constitution clearly defines the freedom of religion and the need to protect the right. The Constitution also clarifies on situations when such rights face abuse and breach. With such clear designs in the provision, individuals are at liberty to fight and ensure respect for their own rights. The American Constitutions also provides clear framework governing freedom of association and assembly. The Constitution assures protection of associations formed on the basis of public good and interests of particular individuals, but not hazardous to country’s security. Such clear provisions leave individual citizens understanding the illegal and legal forms of association and assembly. The design of the US Constitution is in a manner that it recognizes and acknowledges diversity among its citizens. For that reason, the Constitution clarifies on the racial differences and the fate of every race in the country (Pederson 12). The American Constitution further exemplifies on the cultural differences and respect for each constituent culture in the country. The constitution also recognizes the socioeconomic problems faced by particular societies and therefore clarifies on the democratic right of every individual towards equal employment and economic opportunity. By defining all the rights in the clear manner, the constitution empowers individuals to achieve total democracy as they know the systems of practicing and fighting for their democratic rights. The constitution being a supreme law also demarcates unbreakable lines and boundaries of leadership by defining every level of leadership and particular roles of each level. The constitution also defines the modalities of appointments and election of leaders at various levels of leadership and institutions. Works cited Camp, Roderick. Citizen Views of Democracy in Latin America, Volume 1. Pittsburg, NY: University of Pittsburg Press, 2001. Print. Inglehart, Ronald, and Christian Welzel. Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006. Print. Krishna, Arinuth. Do Poor People Care Less for Democracy? Testing Individual-Level Assumptions with Individual-Level Data from India. 2006. Web. . Pederson, Charles E. The U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub, 2010. Print. Read More