¶ … conditions in Somaliland fit Schmitter and Karl's (S&K) definition of a democracy? Which ones do not?
Democracies are not of the same type or quality. Some democracies tend to score better on democratic scales, Freedom House for example, as compared to others. This essay looks at the case study of Somaliland in reference to procedural minimum requirements of a democracy identified in the S&K thesis. These are as follows.
a) Values vs. institutions
Schmitter and Karl's (1991) definition of democracy highlights an important fact i.e., there is no single institutional arrangement to attain such a political structure. Thus, according to the S&K thesis, it is not the existence of certain types of institutions per say but values that determine whether a country is democratic. These values roughly include accountability of elected representatives to the public, right of participation in political offices for the common man, free flow of information and the right of constructive criticism of the state and its machinery.
Somaliland is a perfect example of this distinction that the S&K thesis highlights. Its institutions are founded on traditional societal values rather than replicating western styled democracies. However, they have been able to attain the above mentioned values of a democracy. The council of elders a kind of upper house in the Somaliland government is founded on the tradition of placing important decisions in the hands of clan elders. Yet at the same time it gives voice to all clans, whether influential or not, making it a representative system by giving political say to the minorities as well. Thus, Schmitter and Karl's distinction allows countries like Somaliland to be recognized in the league of democratic states despite their unconventional institutional arrangements.
b) Frequent and fairly conducted elections with all adults having the right to vote and contest
Another minimum procedural requirement in a democracy is that there is a consistent shuffling of the government to hold the elected representatives accountable to the people. Voting in a democracy is the way that citizens judge and...
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