Democratic Regime Consolidation and International Democracy Assistance

Abstract

This chapter defines two key analytical concepts: democratic regime consolidation and international democracy assistance. It distinguishes liberal democracy from the various forms of democracy and dictatorship and points out that democratic consolidation (as part of the process of democratization) remains quite distinct from democratic transition. This study defines democratic consolidation as the process of moving further away from democratic transition and toward a mature democratic regime in which elite members of the major state, political, and civil society institutions effectively or fully comply with the electoral procedural rules, liberal principles and norms of the political game. Democratic transition as a political process does not automatically lead to democratic consolidation and may fall back toward dictatorship. This chapter defines international democracy assistance as a type of assistance provided by bilateral and multi-lateral actors for the promotion of democracy.