The Importance Of Weak Democracy And Weak Democracy

I agree with Huntington that a strong state that can establish political order is more desirable for late developing countries than a weak democracy that causes political decay. A weak democracy is a country where democratic functions exist in the state but do not function effectively. People have no trust in the democratic institutions, and hence no political order and social stability in society. What late developing countries see as desirable is being able to achieve consistent political, economic and social development, which hinges on the effectiveness of the government. While democracy is certainly ideal, with the concepts of individual rights and freedom very appealing, a democracy is not practical for late developing countries, which

This ensures that everyone in the masses will be represented politically as long as there are people willing to vote a party that represents their concerns, unlike a one-party state. However, a multi-party state is not advantageous for developing states, as young political parties are not mature enough to set aside their differences for their common goal of economic and social progress. There is constant in-fighting among the political parties, causing them to lose sight of the overall goal. This leads to stagnation and an impasse in the policy-making process, contributing to political decay. Even the most established democratic governments are not exempt from the above, as seen from the US government shut-down in 2013 due to disagreements between the two major political parties (Yan, 2013). Another example is when Indonesia just achieved independence and a multi-party system was implemented, with numerous parties representing different groups in society. This resulted in conflicting interests, incompetent and corrupt administration, while hyperinflation wrecked the economy (Girling, 1997). In contrast, a one-party state is able to make unified, quick decisions. Young democracies are more unstable, and any delay in policy-making could cause great detriment to national development. Recent political infighting in Somalia could lead to the collapse of the government, and this stalemate in governance has caused a rise in militant and terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab and corruption, as well as a decrease in both local and international confidence in the Somalia government (“The Consequences of Political Infighting,” 2013). Without effective state, important policies concerning anti-terrorism, the economy and the legal system cannot be passed, hindering development. Established democracies are able to