Peaceful transition of power: Difference between revisions
→United States: copyedit |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
===United States=== |
===United States=== |
||
A peaceful transition of power |
A peaceful transition of power has historically been the norm in [[United States presidential transition]]s. It is institutionalized through symbolic acts like the [[United States presidential inauguration]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-18|title=Peaceful Transition of Power|url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/inaugurations|access-date=2020-09-25|website=National Archives|language=en}}</ref> During the 2020 elections, a number of experts described a risk of [[democratic backsliding]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Is the U.S. at Risk of Mirroring Hungary’s Democratic Backsliding?|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/29144/is-the-u-s-at-risk-of-mirroring-hungary-s-democratic-backsliding|access-date=2020-11-15|website=www.worldpoliticsreview.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Bauer|first=Michael W|last2=Becker|first2=Stefan|date=2020-03-02|title=Democratic Backsliding, Populism, and Public Administration|url=https://academic.oup.com/ppmg/article/3/1/19/5698480|journal=Perspectives on Public Management and Governance|language=en|volume=3|issue=1|pages=19–31|doi=10.1093/ppmgov/gvz026|issn=2398-4910}}</ref> US President [[Donald Trump]], during his [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]], raised doubts about the role of a peaceful transition,<ref>{{cite web|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=2020-09-23|title=Trump won't commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/23/trump-wont-commit-to-peaceful-transfer-of-power-if-he-loses-the-election.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> while other elected officials, such as the U.S. Senate, put out public statements in support of the institution and process, seeing it as significant in US democracy.<ref>{{cite web|last=News|first=A. B. C.|title=Unanimous Senate commits to peaceful transfer of power after Trump refuses|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/unanimous-senate-commits-peaceful-transfer-power-trump-refuses/story?id=73216758|access-date=2020-09-25|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> The Financial Times reported that business leaders, including the US Chamber of Commerce and [[Business Roundtable]], made statements calling for a peaceful transfer.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=7 November 2020|title=US business leaders call for peaceful transfer of power|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0df2cc72-69e8-41a1-925a-b0bd4a9aec15|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-15|website=www.ft.com}}</ref> After weeks of questioning, Trump stated on 15 November 2020 that he would accept a peaceful transfer, while at the same time, without giving evidence, he questioned the validity of the results of the [[2020 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|last=CNN|first=Alison Main|title=Trump says he would accept peaceful transfer of power but casts doubt on election results|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/15/politics/donald-trump-election-integrity/index.html|access-date=2020-11-15|website=CNN}}</ref> |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Revision as of 21:45, 19 November 2020
A peaceful transition or transfer of power is a concept important to democratic governments, where the leadership of a government peacefully hands over control of government to a newly elected or selected leadership. This may be at times of election or during the transition from a different kind of political regime, e.g. the post-Communist period after the fall of the Soviet Union,[1] or the elections in Libya following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.[2]
In scholarship examining democratization and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to constitutional democracy and the relative stability of that government.[3][4][5][6] A 2014 study concluded that 68 countries had never had a peaceful transition of power due to an election since 1788.[7][1]
Democratization studies
In scholarship examining democratization and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to constitutional democracy and the relative stability of that government.[3][4][5][6] A 2014 study concluded that 68 countries had never had a peaceful transition of power due to an election since 1788.[7][1]
Peaceful transitions require a number of strong democratic institutions to pursue such as willingness from opposition parties to serve as a loyal opposition. Transitions by election place power holders in vulnerable positions as not only do they risk potential changes in policy and practice and thus their means of power, but also for political retribution or retaliation.[8] Especially in new democracies, there may be a need to create new institutions to facilitate a peaceful transition. After the Libyan Revolution, the National Transitional Council provided a 10-month period that facilitated the "first peaceful transition of power in Libya's modern history".[2] In a stable institutionalized democracy, a peaceful transition is the expected outcome of an election and a 2014 analysis found that once a country begins peaceful transfers of power, it is very likely to keep doing so.[7][1]
21st century
The first peaceful transition of power in a country is often treated as an important stage in a government transition towards democracy such as seen in elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[9] Successful transitions during tense political moments such as the Velvet Revolution in Armenia in 2018 are interpreted as signs of improved governance within the country, an important milestone in democratization and functioning civil society.[10] Alternately, the lack of peaceful transfers of power, such as in elections in Georgia from 1990 to 2008 in which the only transition between presidents was via the 2003 Rose Revolution, may harm the international reputation of the country as a "democracy".[11]
Belarus
During the 2020 Belarusian protests that followed the disputed results of the Belarusian presidential election in August 2020, Belarusians created a Coordination Council and a shadow government, called National Anti-crisis Management (NAM), aiming for a peaceful transfer of power to a freely and fairly elected president.[12][13][14] NAM proposed a "constitutional" option for power transfer, in which the presumed presidential election winner, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, would become Prime Minister and the powers of the de facto president Alexander Lukashenko would be legally transferred to the Prime Minister's position, followed by elections for a new president organised by a newly created electoral commission; and a "legal sovereignty" option, in which Tsikhanouskaya would become President and organise presidential elections within 40–70 days.[15]
Georgia
The transfer of power resulting from the 2012 Georgian parliamentary election was considered an important case of peaceful transfer of power in the post-Soviet political development of Georgia, which, since the Soviet period, had earlier gone through changes such as the Rose Revolution in 2003.[11]
United States
A peaceful transition of power has historically been the norm in United States presidential transitions. It is institutionalized through symbolic acts like the United States presidential inauguration.[16] During the 2020 elections, a number of experts described a risk of democratic backsliding.[17][18] US President Donald Trump, during his 2020 presidential campaign, raised doubts about the role of a peaceful transition,[19] while other elected officials, such as the U.S. Senate, put out public statements in support of the institution and process, seeing it as significant in US democracy.[20] The Financial Times reported that business leaders, including the US Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable, made statements calling for a peaceful transfer.[21] After weeks of questioning, Trump stated on 15 November 2020 that he would accept a peaceful transfer, while at the same time, without giving evidence, he questioned the validity of the results of the 2020 United States presidential election.[22]
References
- ^ a b c d "Peaceful transitions of power have been rare in modern states, but once the habit has been acquired it sticks". EUROPP. 2014-11-26. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ a b "Libya's NTC hands power to newly elected assembly". BBC News. 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ a b Graham, Emmanuel (July 2017). "The Third Peaceful Transfer of Power and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana" (PDF). Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies. 10 (5): 99–127.
- ^ a b Tamarkin, M. (1979). "From Kenyatta to Moi: The Anatomy of a Peaceful Transition of Power". Africa Today. 26 (3): 21–37. ISSN 0001-9887.
- ^ a b Mangu, Andre Mbata B. (2004-06-01). "DR Congo : the long road from war to peace and challenges for peaceful transition and national reconstruction". Africa Insight. 34 (2_3): 31–38. ISSN 0256-2804.
- ^ a b Ahmed, Jasem Mohamad (2012). "Democracy and the problem of peaceful transfer of power". Journal of Al-Frahedis Arts. 04 (10).
- ^ a b c Przeworski, Adam (2015-01-01). "Acquiring the Habit of Changing Governments Through Elections". Comparative Political Studies. 48 (1): 101–129. doi:10.1177/0010414014543614. ISSN 0010-4140.
- ^ Sutter, Daniel (1995). "Settling Old Scores: Potholes along the Transition from Authoritarian Rule". The Journal of Conflict Resolution. 39 (1): 110–128. ISSN 0022-0027.
- ^ "First peaceful transfer of power possible in the DRC: regional focus - East Africa". Africa Conflict Monitor. 2017 (Feb 2017): 35–39. 2017-02-01. ISSN 2311-6943.
- ^ Yayloyan, Diana (2019-02-28). "A Peaceful Transition of Power and Public's Expectations in Armenia". Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey – via Think-Asia.
- ^ a b "Peaceful transfer of political power and its characteristics in Georgia. The Georgian parliamentary elections of 2012". ibn.idsi.md. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ "Pavel Latushko Announces Establishment Of People's Anti-Crisis Administration". Belarus Feed. 2020-10-29. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
- ^ Grekowicz, Nikita (2020-11-15). "Białoruś ponownie zawrzała po skatowaniu Ramana Bandarenki. Trwają protesty [relacja z Mińska]" [Belarus again in shock at the assault on Raman Bandarenka. Protests continue [report from Minsk]]. OKO.press (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
- ^ Sadouskaya–Komlach, Maryia (2020-11-06). "An Exiled Belarusian Opposition Faces A Credibility Test". Center for European Policy Analysis. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
- ^ "National Anti-Crisis Management: Two power transition options have been developed". National Anti-crisis Management. 2020-11-17. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
- ^ "Peaceful Transition of Power". National Archives. 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ "Is the U.S. at Risk of Mirroring Hungary's Democratic Backsliding?". www.worldpoliticsreview.com. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
- ^ Bauer, Michael W; Becker, Stefan (2020-03-02). "Democratic Backsliding, Populism, and Public Administration". Perspectives on Public Management and Governance. 3 (1): 19–31. doi:10.1093/ppmgov/gvz026. ISSN 2398-4910.
- ^ Breuninger, Kevin (2020-09-23). "Trump won't commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ News, A. B. C. "Unanimous Senate commits to peaceful transfer of power after Trump refuses". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "US business leaders call for peaceful transfer of power". www.ft.com. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ CNN, Alison Main. "Trump says he would accept peaceful transfer of power but casts doubt on election results". CNN. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)