Research Proposal: Examining Contemporary Global Democracy Trends

This research proposal examines the evolution and challenges of global democracy, focusing on the 20th century and beyond. It begins by exploring different schools of thought on democracy, including minimalist and civic republican models, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. The proposal then delves into the dynamic nature of democracy, analyzing the impact of resource distribution and historical comparisons with totalitarian regimes. The research aims to understand the origins of democracy, drawing from ancient Greek practices and Western adoption. The methodology involves secondary data analysis, with the goal of identifying gaps in the definition and practice of democracy. The proposal concludes by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of democracy to make recommendations for a more perfect democratic system, while acknowledging limitations in source availability.

Rethinking Democracy
Rethinking Democracy
Research Proposal

Rethinking Democracy
Abstract
Global approaches to democracy continue to vary as democratic governance faces threats in
democracy. There are different schools of thought about democracy. The minimalist consider the
people’s role in electing leaders into positions. This is the same theory as supported by the
liberalists like Thomas Hobbes and Schumpeter. This notion encouraged the practice of
democracy within a territory. In this kind of rule, legal citizenship and the national identity are
significant. It encourages public representation, and accountability. The civic republicans support
a participatory, all-inclusive and deliberate rule. This model facilitates for social movements,
encourages political participation and equal representation in decision-making. In this case,
citizens connect with the government. Supporters of this approach include John Dryzek who
believe in consequential effects such as capacity building.

Rethinking Democracy
Research Topic: Where does democracy come from?
Research Context/ Research problem: Contemporary Global Democracy
Having looked at democracy models with reference to the Liberal Minimalism and Civic
Republicanism, I came to the realization that democracy is dynamic (Isakhan & Stockwell, 2012,
p. 20). The complexity of democracy today is tested by the quest for supremacy in the developed
nations and power politics in the developing world. This research paper sets out to examine
changes in global democracy with a focus on western democracies in the 20th Century. It creates
a comparison with dictatorship trends in Italy (Fascism), Germany (Nazism) and Russia
(Stalinism) and its ideologies (Hegel, 1952 ). It looks at the origin of democracy to bring out the
standard history as practiced by ancient Greeks and its adoption by Americans and the West. An
analysis of the traditional perspective of democracy in comparison with the pre-classical and
medieval age highlighting gaps in contemporary democracy.
Democracy and Resources
From this analysis, it is clear that equitable distribution of resources has been a major factor
influencing decision-making processes in a democracy. There is considerable evidence that
human beings have always used collectiveness and inclusivity when handling social issues
(Pritchard, 2010). Since the existence of a sophisticated form of democracy in Athens under the
Polis, issues of representation became evident. Class division in the Western democracy was also
an experience in the Confucian democratic practices. As a result, issues of legitimacy, activism,
and resistance to oppression expose the limitation of democracy. Some scholars have delved into
the question of whether a perfect democracy exists (Coopedge, et al., 2011).

Rethinking Democracy
Contemporary democracy borrows largely from the past to give projections about future
expectations (Huntington, 1984). Lessons learnt indicate the tendency towards a complex debate
and questions about whether a perfect democracy exists. It questions the characteristics of such
kind of leadership and its legacy while making suggestions for reforms.
Research Methods
I plan to use different sources of secondary data based on biographical as well as historical
information. This will provide a foundation for the establishment of the democratic atmosphere
in support of contemporary leadership trends. Sources include current and historical references.
Limitations
This proposal faces limitation of sources because of the restrictions on specific texts for the
study.
Conclusion
This Research proposal identifies gaps in the definition of democracy and its actual practice. It
highlights the failure of major democracies in the world in order to make recommendations of a
perfect democratic system.

Rethinking Democracy
References
Coopedge, M., Gerring, J., Altman, D., Bernhard, M., Fish, S., Hicken, A., . . . Teorell, J. (2011).
Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy: A New Approach. Perspectives on Politics,
9(2), 247-267.
Hegel, G. W. (1952 [1987]). Models of Democracy (3 Ed ed.). Stanford: Stanford university
Press.
Huntington, S. P. (1984). Will More Countries Become Democratic? Political Science
Quarterly, 99(2), 193-218.
Isakhan, B., & Stockwell, S. (2012). The Edinburg Companion to the History of Democracy:
From Pre-history to Future Possibilities (1st Edition ed.). Edinburg University Press.
Pritchard, D. (2010). War, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.