The Democratization Disconnect : How Recent Democratic Revolutions Threaten the Future of Democracy

The most recent wave of democratic revolutions has convinced many in the West of the triumph of political rights. But in this provocative book, Brian Grodsky argues forcefully that nothing could be further from the truth. Today’s revolutionaries—both democratic and non-democratic—are much like those who preceded them throughout history. They’ve all come into power promising enhanced political, but especially economic, rights: higher wages, better living standards, more security. The difference between today’s pro-democracy leaders and yesterday’s non-democratic ones, the author demonstrates, rests on the perceived international legitimacy of the democratic template. Now, when even the most abusive regimes feel the need to label themselves democracies, opponents delegitimize rulers by calling them undemocratic. This sets the stage for what Grodsky calls the “democratization disconnect.” Leaders and followers fight for political change not as an end, but as the most acceptable means to attain economic rights. But by selling democracy as a panacea for the ills of the preceding regime, new elites simultaneously cheapen the notion of democracy and, by creating unrealistic popular expectations, set it up for failure. Putting a fresh new spin on hotly debated current events, this clear-eyed and informed book will be essential reading for all politically engaged readers. The Most Recent Wave Of Democratic Revolutions Has Convinced Many In The West Of The Triumph Of Political Rights. But In This Book, Brian Grodsky Argues That Nothing Could Be Further From The Truth. Today's Revolutionaries Both Democratic And Non-democratic Are Much Like Those Who Preceded Them Throughout History. They've All Come Into Power Promising Enhanced Political, But Especially Economic, Rights: Higher Wages, Better Living Standards, More Security. The Difference Between Today's Pro-democracy Leaders And Yesterday's Non-democratic Ones, The Author Demonstrates, Rests On The Perceived International Legitimacy Of The Democratic Template. Now, When Even The Most Abusive Regimes Feel The Need To Label Themselves Democracies, Opponents Delegitimize Rulers By Calling Them Undemocratic. This Sets The Stage For What Grodsky Calls The Democratization Disconnect. Leaders And Followers Fight For Political Change Not As An End, But As The Most Acceptable Means To Attain Economic Rights. But By Selling Democracy As A Panacea For The Ills Of The Preceding Regime, New Elites Simultaneously Cheapen The Notion Of Democracy And, By Creating Unrealistic Popular Expectations, Set It Up For Failure. The Roots Of The Democratization Disconnect -- The Rise And Impact Of Democratic Legitimacy -- Democratization's First Wave And The Economics Of Political Liberty -- Struggles For Human Dignity Before Democratic Legitimacy : Of Communists, Fascists And Fundamentalists -- Fueling The Third Wave : Human Dignity And Democratization In Communist Poland -- Crowning The Third Wave At The Bottom Of Africa -- The Beginning Of The End Of Democracy's Third Wave : Yugoslavia -- Georgia's Rose Revolution And The Affirmation Of Democratic Legitimacy -- The Arab Spring In Egypt : A View From Democratization's Peak -- Saving Democracy From The Threats Of Democratic Legitimacy. Brian Grodsky. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The most recent wave of democratic revolutions has convinced many in the West of the triumph of political rights. But in this provocative book, Brian Grodsky argues forcefully that nothing could be farther from the truth. Today’s democratic revolutions are, much like so many non-democratic revolutions before them, about human dignity, with a stress on economic and social rights. They have taken the form of “democratic revolutions” simply because the international system bestows legitimacy only to rising democrats. Yet when the dust settles, many newly democratic regimes do a poor job of addressing popular ideas of human dignity. As they fail or turn away from democracy, the author clearly shows that they threaten to undermine the still-evolving notion of democratic legitimacy.