More Than Elections: How Democracies Transfer Power
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JOURNALURNALUSA More Than Elections HOW DEMOCRACIES TRANSFER POWER U.S. DEPARTMENT 0F STATE / BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION PROGRAMS The Bureau of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly electronic journal under the eJournal USA logo. These journals examine major issues facing the United States and the international community, as well as U.S. society, values, thought, and institutions. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE / JanuarY 2010 VOLUME 15 / NUMBER 1 One new journal is published monthly in English and is http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournalusa.html followed by versions in French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Selected editions also appear in Arabic, Chinese, and Persian. Each journal is catalogued by volume and International Information Programs: number. Coordinator Daniel Sreebny The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily Executive Editor Jonathan Margolis reflect the views or policies of the U.S. government. The Creative Director Michael Jay Friedman U.S. Department of State assumes no responsibility for the content and continued accessibility of Internet sites to which the journals link; such responsibility resides Editor-in-Chief Richard W. Huckaby solely with the publishers of those sites. Journal articles, Managing Editor Lea Terhune photographs, and illustrations may be reproduced and Production Manager/ translated outside the United States unless they carry Web Producer Janine Perry explicit copyright restrictions, in which case permission must be sought from the copyright holders noted in the Designer Chloe D. Ellis journal. The Bureau of International Information Programs maintains current and back issues in several electronic Copy Editor Jeanne Holden formats, as well as a list of upcoming journals, at Photo Editor Maggie Johnson Sliker http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournals.html. Cover Design Min Yao Comments are welcome at your local U.S. Embassy or at Reference Specialist Anita Green the editorial offices: Editor, eJournal USA IIP/PUBJ U.S. Department of State Cover: AP Images/Jupiter Images 2200 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20522-0501 USA E-mail: [email protected] About This Issue In our campaigns, no matter how hard fought they may be, no matter how close the election may turn out to be, those who lose accept the verdict and support those who win. Nixon’s critics saw in his words the opening shot of a future campaign. Why they might view a gracious concession as politically shrewd is the subject of this eJournal USA. This month we explore how democracies transfer power in accord with the will of the people, expressed through free and fair elections. In the two decades since the Cold War ended, many nations have held elections, but not all are genuine democracies. Sometimes elections are rigged, incumbents enjoy unfair advantages, or — © AP Images © with military support — they overturn the results. But in President-elect John F. Kennedy (left) shakes hands with Vice President Richard M. Nixon after a joint press conference in Miami, Florida, on healthy democracies, as Nixon and his critics understood, November 14, 1960, six days after Kennedy narrowly defeated Nixon. citizens expect that elections will be fair and insist that the results be respected, beginning with a peaceful transition he 1960 presidential election was among the of power from one leader to the next. most closely fought in U.S. history. So close that Our contributors link peaceful transitions to a Tsupporters of Vice President Richard M. Nixon vibrant civil society. These voluntary civic and social urged him to challenge the results. Nixon declined. “Even organizations, they argue, engage and inform citizens, and if we were to win in the end,” he explained, “the cost instill a shared expectation that democracy is legitimate in world opinion and the effect on democracy in the and undemocratic action is not. The essays gathered here broadest sense would be detrimental.” explore transitions of power in the United States and other Nixon instead performed his duty as vice president, nations. We also examine a 21st-century development: and officially reported to the Senate the election of John F. how new social media technologies can strengthen civil Kennedy. “This is the first time in 100 years,” he began, society and thus bolster democracy. that a candidate for the presidency announced A number of contributors point out that democracies the result of an election in which he was are stable because election losers know that no victory is defeated and announced the victory of his permanent, that winners cannot change the rules of future opponent. I do not think we could have contests, and that losers can compete and win another day. a more striking example of the stability Among those competitors was Richard M. Nixon, elected of our constitutional system and of the in 1968 the 37th president of the United States. proud tradition of the American people of developing, respecting and honoring institutions of self-government. — The Editors eJOURNAL USA 1 U.S. Department OF State / JanuarY 2010 / Volume 15 / NUMBER 1 http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournalusa.html More Than Elections: How Democracies Transfer Power PREPARING THE GROUND 13 Democracy’s Rhetoric of Defeat PAUL CORCORAN , ASSOCIAT E PRO fe SSOR O F 4 More Than Elections POLITICAL SCI E NC E , UNIveRSITY O F AD E LAID E , ERIC BJORNLUND , CO-FOUND E R AND PRINCIPAL AUSTRALIA O F DE MOCRACY INT E RNATIONAL , INC . Concession speeches, particularly after hard- Elections are just a starting point in a healthy fought elections, reinforce government stability by democracy: The true test is a stable government reconciling citizens to election results. that protects minority rights, rule of law, and free speech, and promotes a strong civil society. 16 Civil Society, Democracy, and Elections 8 Ingredients of a Resilient Democracy BRUC E GILL E Y , ASSISTANT PRO fe SSOR O F VAL E RI E BUNC E , PRO fe SSOR O F GO ve RNM E NT POLITICAL SCI E NC E , PORTLAND STAT E UNIveRSITY, AND AARON BIN E NKOR B CHAIR O F INT E RNATIONAL PORTLAND , OR eg ON STUDI E S , CORN E LL UNIveRSITY Strong civil societies hold elected officials Elections in a healthy democracy hold responsible for good governance and cultivate governments accountable to the governed and the political conditions in which democracy can ensure stability. thrive. 10 The Lasting Impact of Digital Media 19 The 2008-2009 U. S. Presidential on Civil Society Transition: Successful Cooperation PHILIP N. HOWARD , ASSOCIAT E PRO fe SSOR , MARTHA JOYNT KUMAR , PRO fe SSOR O F POLITICAL Dep ARTM E NT O F COMMUNICATIONS , UNIveRSITY SCI E NC E , TOWSON UNIveRSITY, TOWSON , O F WASHIN G TON , SE ATTL E , WASHIN G TON MARYLAND , AND DIR E CTOR O F TH E WHIT E Individual citizens and civil society groups employ HOUS E TRANSITION PROJ E CT digital media and social networking tools to The smoothest handovers from one administration communicate rapidly, verbally, and visually — to another require long months of advance work sometimes for political mobilization and dissent. and cooperation by outgoing and incoming presidents. eJOURNAL USA 2 TRANSFERRING POWER 31 Authoritarian Rule to the European Union: Romania and Moldova 22 PHOTO GALLERY: Implementing the GRI G OR E PO P -EL E CH E S , ASSISTANT PRO fe SSOR O F Will of the People POLITICS, PU B LIC AND INT E RNATIONAL Aff AIRS , PRINC E TON UNIveRSITY 27 Herbert Hoover to Franklin D. Two former Communist bloc states have followed Roosevelt: Transition in a Time of Crisis different paths toward democracy. Civil society has DONALD A. RITCHIE, HISTORIAN O F TH E UNIT E D played a role both in Romania, now a European STAT E S SE NAT E Union member, and Moldova, an aspiring member. The transition from Republican president Herbert Hoover to Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt during 34 “Serbian Autumn” Delayed: A Lesson the Great Depression occurred during a time of great in Uncivil Democracy-Building economic and political stress, but nevertheless was ZORAN CIRJAKOVIC, JOURNALIST AND LE CTUR E R peaceful. Sometimes civil society organizations are less effective than seasoned political dealmakers in 29 How a Partially Free Election Altered achieving a democratic outcome. Poland ANNA HUSARSKA , TRANSLATOR , JOURNALIST , AND 36 Additional Resources HUMANITARIAN WORK E R A first-hand account of Poland’s 1989 election and of how the Solidarity movement and other civil society groups helped establish Polish democracy. eJOURNAL USA 3 More Than Elections Eric Bjornlund © AP Images/Themba Hadebe © Outside the Pan African Parliament in South Africa, a Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporter calls for the Parliament to pressure President Robert Mugabe to make democratic reforms in neighboring Zimbabwe. A lawyer and development professional with two decades emocratic elections are widely recognized as of international experience, Eric Bjornlund co-founded a foundation of legitimate government. By and heads Democracy International, Inc., which designs, Dallowing citizens to choose the manner in which implements, and evaluates democracy and governance they are governed, elections form the starting point for programs. He specializes in elections, political processes, all other democratic institutions and practices. Genuine civil society, and analytical methods. He is the author of democracy, however, requires substantially more. In Beyond Free and Fair: Monitoring Elections and Building addition to elections, democracy requires constitutional Democracy (2004). limits on governmental power, guarantees of basic In a healthy democracy, elections are the starting point rights, tolerance of religious or ethnic minorities, and for a stable government that protects minority rights, ensures representation of diverse viewpoints, among other things. free speech, respects the rule of law, and promotes a strong To build authentic democracy, societies must foster a civil society. democratic culture and rule of law that govern behavior between elections and constrain those who might be tempted to undermine election processes.