Bryn Donovan
Memo #2
13 September 2018
AP Comparative Government
The reading explored the five causes of democracy, modernism, cultural theories, systematic/structural theories, domestic institutions, and agency-based theories. Each theory is supported by actions be various countries, however, India remains an anomaly as it directly opposed the theory of modernization.
No democracy is perfect. The past few years there have been debates over the legitimacy of United States elections. Currently, there is a bill on the table take a more aggressive stance on Russia interference in American elections. This bill may be shot down by president Trump according to a New York Times article.
Which is more important. How a country becomes a democracy or how it fulfills the standards of democracy?
Although India did not become a democracy in one of the five ways lined out in the chapter, they are moving towards being a more accepting place. This can be seen with the legalization of gay sex. On the other hand, the United States, one of the stronger democracies, is struggling with free and fair elections. This is one of the foremost criteria for a country to be a democracy. It is clear that both countries are moving towards being fully democratic. The measure of democracy should not be how it comes about, but what it does after the fact.
Barnes, Julian E., and Nicholas Fandos. “Lawmakers Dismiss White House Push to Fight Election Interference as Too Weak.” The New York Times. September 12, 2018. Accessed September 13, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/12/us/politics/trump-executive-order-election-interference-senate.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Russia&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection.
