Democratic transition

File:Number of countries experiencing autocratization and democratization, 1900–2000.jpg

Since c. Template:Trim, the number of countries autocratizing (blue) is higher than those democratizing (yellow).

A democratic transition describes a phase in a country's political system as a result of an ongoing change from an authoritarian regime to a democratic one. The process is known as democratisation, political changes moving in a democratic direction. Democratization waves have been linked to sudden shifts in the distribution of power among the great powers, which created openings and incentives to introduce sweeping domestic reforms. Although transitional regimes experience more civil unrest, they may be considered stable in a transitional phase for decades at a time. Since the end of the Cold War transitional regimes have become the most common form of government. Scholarly analysis of the decorative nature of democratic institutions concludes that the opposite democratic backsliding (autocratization), a transition to authoritarianism is the most prevalent basis of modern hybrid regimes.

Typology

Autocratization

File:Countries democratizing or autocratizing substantially and significantly 2010–2020.svg

Countries autocratizing (red) or democratizing (blue) substantially and significantly (2010–2020), according to V-Dem Institute. Countries in grey are substantially unchanged.

Democratisation

File:Global effect of 1989-1991 Revolutions.png

Map showing democratization of countries after the Cold War

Measurement

File:BTI 2022 DEM.jpg

Global trend report Bertelsmann Transformation Index 2022

See also

• Energy transition
• Anti-authoritarianism
• Types of democracy
• Peaceful transition of power
• Radical politics
• Transition economy
• List of freedom indices

External links

• Democracy data: how do researchers measure democracy? -Our World in Data
• Democratic Transition publications - Jstor