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Advanced Economic Development

• It is rare that you will find stable democracy in societies, which are not economically advanced. One reason is that you will not find many urbanized, literate and sophisticated population that expects participation in the political process in these countries. A second reason why societies with advanced economic development are usually democratic is that they have large middle classes that has a stake in the system and is the reluctant to support political alternatives without fearing by conflict. In countries, which have a large impoverished class, it is unlikely that the ruling class will oppose any meaningful extension of democratic rights.

Restraint of Government Power

• Democracy is best served if there are institutional checks on the powers of the state. Such checks can be achieved through recognition of the powers granted to and limits imposed on the different branches of the government, as well as the recognition of individual freedom found in the Constitution.

Absence of Major Division

• For democracy to survive, there has to be a general consensus on values and widespread commitment to the existing political order. Minor splits/divisions are healthy, but if a sharp political split is present, society tends to divide into military camps unwilling to make compromises necessary for democracy to work. The potential for conflict, in turn, may pressure a government to become strong in order to contain such struggles/fights.

Tolerance of Dissent

• Tolerance of criticism and dissenting opinion is fundamental to democracy in the sense that it deters governing parties from equating their interests to the national good.

Access to Information

• Democracy requires citizens to make informed choice. When citizens are denied access to information or are given false or misleading information, then the ability to make intelligent choices becomes impossible, and the democratic process becomes a sham.

Diffusion of Power

• If power is diffused, and no one group can obtain monopoly over it, the prospects for democracy are enhanced. The separation of power centers provides a system of checks and balances, and each group must take account of the others.