| Chapter 2: | Bringing People Back In |
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I will offer a thorough review of the relevant literature in chapter 2. A brief explanation of these concepts follows.
A. Support For Democracy
Support for democracy in a modernizing society emerges after the public’s exposure to the idea of democracy. Democracy first originated in the northwest corner of Europe, and has long thrived in the West. The emergence of support for democracy in a non-Western developing society results largely from global exchange of information. Support for democracy in a non-Western society comes from the dissemination of ideas of democracy.
People show support for democracy after they begin to consider it as a concept or a type of government, and this, in general, presents a superficial measurement of the readiness of a society for democracy. Some scholars have called this “lip service” to democracy. But strong support for democracy among the public are important in two ways. First, in a nondemocratic society, strong support for democracy means the public now consciously demands a democratic form of government. With such public demand, democratic reform will meet public support, while failure to reform may generate public discontent. Second, critical for the consolidation of a fledging democratic system, in a new democracy the system must enjoy high public support.
B. Self-Expression Values
The concept of self-expression values offers a more concrete perception of democratic politics by the public.