Notes

Democracy 3
**Flashcard 1**
Q: What do stable democracies historically have?
A:
- Large, educated middle classes

**Flashcard 2**
Q: What do people in poor countries prioritize over democracy?
A:
- Survival

**Flashcard 3**
Q: What did a 2004 UN survey of Latin America reveal about people's preferences?
A:
- Majority preferred a dictator who provides food over an elected leader who does not

**Flashcard 4**
Q: What qualities do middle classes bring to democracy?
A:
- Moderation
- Tolerance
- Realization that not everything can be fixed at once

**Flashcard 5**
Q: What can undermine democracy without middle-class qualities?
A:
- Elections

**Flashcard 6**
Q: Which countries are examples where elections undermined democracy?
A:
- Iraq
- Iran
- Russia
- Zimbabwe

**Flashcard 7**
Q: How is the transition to democracy best achieved?
A:
- Slowly, as exemplified by Britain's series of Reform Acts in the 19th century

**Flashcard 8**
Q: What can result from attempting democracy too soon?
A:
- Rule by demagogues, generals, or fanatics

**Flashcard 9**
Q: Which ex-Communist countries have successfully transitioned to democracy?
A:
- Poland
- Czech Republic

**Flashcard 10**
Q: Which country recently adopted democratic traits?
A:
- Hungary

**Flashcard 11**
Q: What is the status of democracy in the East and South?
A:
- Incomplete or in retreat

**Flashcard 12**
Q: Why do some voters prefer autocracy?
A:
- Lack of understanding of democracy
- Promises of stability and incomes

**Flashcard 13**
Q: What is necessary for a balanced political culture in a democracy?
A:
- Market economy
- Large, educated middle class
- Tradition of pluralism (co-existing different cultures, values, ideologies in harmony)

**Flashcard 14**
Q: How long does it take to form a democratic political culture?
A:
- Much time, potentially decades

**Flashcard 15**
Q: Can countries like Iraq eventually form a democratic political culture?
A:
- Yes, but it may take decades

**Flashcard 16**
Q: What do many scholars hope for in terms of global democracy?
A:
- Democratic peace theory: "Democracies do not fight each other"

**Flashcard 17**
Q: What is the implication of the democratic peace theory?
A:
- A more democratic world will mean a more peaceful world

**Flashcard 18**
Q: Why is democracy not easy to achieve?
A:
- Requires a balanced political culture
- Depends on a market economy
- Needs a large, educated middle class
- Requires a tradition of pluralism

**Flashcard 19**
Q: What was the finding of the 2004 UN survey in Latin America regarding dictators and elected leaders?
A:
- Preference for dictators who provide food over elected leaders who do not

**Flashcard 20**
Q: What happens in a country without a middle class in the context of democracy?
A:
- Elections can undermine democracy