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Download the Paper (190 K, PDF file) - March 19, 2008 Tell a colleague about it. Printing Tips: Select 'print as image' in the Acrobat print dialog if you have trouble printing.

ABSTRACT:
This article argues that “human empowerment” is the most important driving force behind effective democratization. Though elite agreements are central to establish nominal democracy, effective democracy does not emerge because elites concede it to the masses, but because ordinary people become increasingly capable and willing to place effective mass pressures on the elites. Effective democracy is thus the outcome of a broader process of “human empowerment.”

SUGGESTED CITATION:
Christian Welzel and Ronald Inglehart, "Democracy as Human Empowerment: The Role of Ordinary People in the Emergence and Survival of Democracy" (March 19, 2008). Center for the Study of Democracy. Paper 08-03.
http://repositories.cdlib.org/csd/08-03