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Preferred term

democracy and democratization  

Definition

  • Modern conceptions of democracy focus on what Robert Dahl calls “contestation” and “participation.” A modern democracy (which Dahl prefers to call a “polyarchy” to distinguish it from ancient or direct democracy) allows the opposition to contest incumbents for control of the state. A state is also democratic if all adults have the right to express their views and to shape the behavior of public officials. [Source: The Encyclopedia of Political Science; Democracy and Democratization]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/democracy_and_democratization

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