Third Wave Democracy
Encyclopedia
In political science
, Third Wave Democracy, also known as Democracy's Third Wave, refers to the third major surge of democracy
in history. The term was coined by Samuel P. Huntington
, a political scientist at Harvard University
in his article published in the Journal of Democracy
and further expounded in his 1991 book The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century.
The first wave of democracy began in the early 19th century when suffrage
was granted to the majority of white males in the United States
("Jacksonian democracy
"). At its peak, the first wave saw 29 democracies in the world. This continued until 1922, when Benito Mussolini
rose to power in Italy
. The ebb of the first wave lasted from 1922 until 1942, during which the number of democracies in the world dropped to a mere 12.
The second wave began following the Allied victory in World War II
, and crested nearly 20 years later in 1962 with 36 recognised democracies in the world. The second wave ebbed as well at this point, and the total number dropped to 30 democracies between 1962 and the mid-1970s. But the "flat line" would not last for long, as the third wave was about to surge in a way no one had ever seen.
Many political scientists and theorists believe that in accordance with history, this third wave has crested and will soon ebb just as its predecessors did. Others believe that there are still more democracies to come, saying that this is still the beginning of the current wave. A common belief is that the third wave will ebb only to quickly be replaced with a fourth wave as early as the first half of the 21st century.
Huntington agrees that these predictions are certainly possible and that to a degree each is valid, however he notes that no such events can truly be predicted, even with years of history as a model.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, Third Wave Democracy, also known as Democracy's Third Wave, refers to the third major surge of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in history. The term was coined by Samuel P. Huntington
Samuel P. Huntington
Samuel Phillips Huntington was an influential American political scientist who wrote highly-regarded books in a half-dozen sub-fields of political science, starting in 1957...
, a political scientist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in his article published in the Journal of Democracy
Journal of Democracy
The Journal of Democracy is a quarterly academic journal established in 1990 and an official publication of the National Endowment for Democracy...
and further expounded in his 1991 book The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century.
Background
Huntington describes global democratization as coming in three waves, the first beginning in the early 19th century with the third being a current event.The first wave of democracy began in the early 19th century when suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
was granted to the majority of white males in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
("Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
"). At its peak, the first wave saw 29 democracies in the world. This continued until 1922, when Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
rose to power in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The ebb of the first wave lasted from 1922 until 1942, during which the number of democracies in the world dropped to a mere 12.
The second wave began following the Allied victory in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and crested nearly 20 years later in 1962 with 36 recognised democracies in the world. The second wave ebbed as well at this point, and the total number dropped to 30 democracies between 1962 and the mid-1970s. But the "flat line" would not last for long, as the third wave was about to surge in a way no one had ever seen.
The Third Wave
In 1974 the third wave began its upward climb, doubling the number of democracies in just a few decades. Today there are some 60 democracies in the world, the most to date.Many political scientists and theorists believe that in accordance with history, this third wave has crested and will soon ebb just as its predecessors did. Others believe that there are still more democracies to come, saying that this is still the beginning of the current wave. A common belief is that the third wave will ebb only to quickly be replaced with a fourth wave as early as the first half of the 21st century.
Huntington agrees that these predictions are certainly possible and that to a degree each is valid, however he notes that no such events can truly be predicted, even with years of history as a model.