Barbara Wejnert

Diffusion, Development, and Democracy, 1800-1999

While a trend of growth in democratization over the past two centuries has been generally observed, it is the remarkable growth in the democratization of the world over the past 30 years that has truly captured the imagination of social scientists, policymakers, and the general public alike. Two major sets of factors have dominated studies attempting to predict democratization. One set characterizes endogenous or internal features of countries, and may be referred to as socioeconomic development. The other set, less often tested, characterizes exogenous variables that influence democratization via forces at work globally and within the region in which a country resides; this set may be referred to as diffusion processes. This study provides the first systematic comparison of these two sets of variables. When assessed alone, development indicators are robust predictors of democracy, but their predictive power fades with the inclusion of diffusion variables. In particular, diffusion predictors of spatial proximity and networks are robust predictors of democratic growth in both the world and across all regions. The results demonstrate that regional patterns in democratization are evident, and hence world analyses are only the first approximation to understanding democratic growth. Finally, this study introduces an application of Multilevel Regression Models to studies on democratization. Such models fit observed data on world democratization better than the simple regression models used in most previous studies.

From patriarchy to egalitarianism: Parenting roles in democratizing Poland and Kyrgyzstan

Abstract This paper offers an analysis of how parenting can be understood as an artifact that articulates and portrays the cultural, economic and political reality of transitional democratic vs. communist societies. In this framework, we specifically compare forms of family life and parental roles in the democratizing former Soviet countries: Poland and Kyrgyzstan. In these countries traditional culture, stemming in part from Moslem or Catholic traditions, operates as a noteworthy segment of societal structure that plays a significant role in holding societies together. Accordingly, two tendencies can be observed in these countries: (a) a move towards Western democratic values, including the idea of egalitarianism and small nuclear families, and (b) a revival of cultural traditions relating to family life and marital relationships. Although families have become solely responsible for how they choose to organize themselves, whether in the spirit of Western values and egalitarian roles, or in the spirit of traditional patriarchy, this paper posits that recent democratization and diffusion of Western, egalitarian models of family relationships have a stronger effect on parenting roles than religious traditionalism.

Effects of Global Democracy on Women's Reproductive Health: 1970–2005, Cross-World Analysis

ABSTRACT Despite many trends that have been commonly assumed to enrich societal well-being, this article posits that in addition to benefits there are also costs associated with democratization. This article comparatively analyzes the effects of democratic transition on womens health in democratizing well-developed as compared with developing countries across the world. Considering the junction of positive and negative outcomes of democratization, the author argues that to women the costs of democratization are much more substantial than to men because their societal roles are less valued and life for most women is centered at home and, hence, is not considered to be of public concern. Thus far, democratizations costs to women have been largely overlooked, not only in terms of economic opportunities but also in terms of their impact on womens health. These costs cannot be ignored as they limit womens empowerment and endanger national health.

The Effects of Growth of Democracy and Transition to Market-Based Economies on Women's Well-Being

This paper assesses the effects of the growth of democracy on various measures of well-being in transition economies throughout the world and in post-communist countries over the past three decades. The results suggest that the effects of democratization on quality of life differ across gender. Specifically, while democracy has positive effects overall, the quality of life for women declines on several key measures, especially in the area of economic opportunities. The results also demonstrate vast differences in the effects of democratization between the world in general and the post-communist region. The study suggests that comprehensive investigation of democratization requires regional and gender-specific analyses. These differing effects of democracy need to be considered as policies develop in transitional democracies.

Maternal Health Policies in Countries in Transition: Poland and Kyrgyzstan, 1990–2006

ABSTRACT Starting with the initiation of democratic and market economic transitions, unsupportive policies concerning womens reproductive health were implemented in Kyrgyzstan and Poland in the period 1990–2006. These policies were expressed by (1) political decisions limiting available funding to support medical practices protecting womens reproductive health, (2) diminishing or restricted dissemination of knowledge about family planning, and (3) the implementation of new contraception and abortion policies. Could these changes be perceived as combat between democratic liberalism, cosmopolitanism, and tolerance versus traditionalism, insularism, and fundamentalism? We use analyses of policies concerning womens reproductive and maternal health to manifest rivalry between economic crisis and the push toward modernity and between traditionalism and liberalism. We demonstrate that the return to traditional gender roles and gender policies, and their practical application expressed in maternal health policies, illustrates cultural backlash toward diffusing Western liberalism in countries in political and economic transition.

Populism and Democracy: Not the Same but Interconnected

Abstract This chapter discusses differences and similarities between democracy and populism with regards to their definitions, main goals, types of actors, structures, and main constituencies. Special focus is devoted to the functions democracy and populism play in the politics of sovereign countries. As the chapter argues, democracy calls for the implementation of political freedoms, rights, and political inclusiveness. In contrast, the spontaneous actions of populism appeal to popular agendas and often use disfranchised populations to achieve political goals.

Issues in Health, Democracy, and Development

In democratic societies people can impact policy making and in theory can direct societal development. Hence, due to active public participation in the decision-making process, it might be easier to solve societal problems in democratic countries. Nonetheless, democracies are not free from social ills nor are nondemocracies. Though the benefits outweigh the costs of democratic changes, the costs should not be forgotten. Especially when we consider the impact of democracy and development on population health, the costs are significant though limitedly discussed. The costs in societal health are especially visible among poverty-driven populations of democratic and nondemocratic countries. Poverty, in general, limits access to medical care and modern medical treatment. Poverty is also one of the most influential separators of society separating social strata in terms of their differentiated access to health-care facilities and modern medical treatments. Democracies by being more likely supported by international networks that help to open access to medical care, including international medical services, ease the struggle against poverty and unhealthy living conditions, but democracies are still unable to eliminate them.

Response to Kurt Weyland’s review of Diffusion of Democracy: The Past and Future of Global Democracy

Preface 1. Understanding democracy once more 2. Factors in contributing to democratization 3. Trajectory and temporal rate of democratization 4. Democratic or autocratic future of the world? 5. Why is democracy desirable? Outcomes of democracies and autocracies 6. Epilogue: democratic/autocratic world through a journalistic lens in 2013 Appendix 1. Description of variables of expressed value, risk and countries tolerance of democracy adoption Appendix 2. Selected predictors of democratic growth Appendix 3. Statistical modelling of contrasting definitions of democratic growth.

Epilogue: Finding Populism Today

Abstract The rebirth of populist agenda echoes at the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century is the birth of populist unrest in democratic and in authoritarian regimes alike – in Europe, the Middle East, America, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Regardless of many faces and appeals to diverse constituencies, as well as clearly established trends, a current escalation in the rapid and widespread development of populist insurgency is an outcome of two factors. One is the weakness of representative politics and the party system in many states across the globe. The other is the global economic recession or crisis that has led to an increase in economic disparity between social classes and impoverishment of the poorer and middle social strata combined with the establishment of global economic, multinational giants.

Health, Development, and Democracy: Health Systems in Southeast Asia and in Eastern Europe

So far only minimal efforts have been made to directly integrate health concerns with priorities of the processes of global economic development. Nonetheless, there is search for new models to provide sufficient medical care and to encumber global threats, soaring medical costs, technological costs, poverty, and disease. Using example of health conditions and health policies implemented in countries of Southeast Asia in comparison to Eastern Europe, the chapter emphasizes success achieved and in the process of achievement in provision of health care to societies in these countries.