(no subject)

[tinyjo]

Alex and I were discussing something only tangentially related recently when I realised that the UK is the only country I can think of which has kind of evolved a democracy in a fairly undramatic and very gradual fashion. All the other countries about who's governmental history I know have either started as more or less democracies (e.g. America), had revolutions (e.g. France) or been pushed into it by other powers (e.g. India). I'm sure there must be others though - some of the Nordic states perhaps? Enlighten me, friends list.

Comments

[badasstronaut.livejournal.com]

All the other countries about who's governmental history I know have either started as more or less democracies (e.g. America)

I'm not sure if you can assume colonised countries 'started' that way, it's more a case that the colonisers brought in and imposed governmental styles similar to the ones they'd had previously.

[white_hart]

Although we did cut our monarch's head off once, don't forget...

This is something I've noticed before. I think it's all to do with the relative status of the middle classes and the fact that the bourgeoisie gained power far more easily in a trading economy like England's rather than a predominantly agricultural society like France. Also, the power of the Church in the countries that remained Catholic held the bourgeoisie down, whereas i think the Protestant church has historically had more scope for self-improvement.

I suspect that as well as the Scandinavian countries, a lot of the German states made relatively easy progress towards democratic or partially-democratic societies. Of course, the unification process there is a whole 'nother kettle of fish...

[satyrica.livejournal.com]

our history is remarkably unrevolutionary: in 1848 we were about the only European country that didn't have at least a little one . . .

New Model Army?!?

[applez.livejournal.com]

The UK definitely did join the seduction of revolution and Republicanism, but these revolutions spurred a counter-revolutionary democratic system, rather than successfully establishing one by revolution.

Also, if it's all the same to you, America did experience a revolution...ahem. ;-) 'Course, in strange irony, where we had to experience the tyranny of your King George, now you get to experience the tyranny of ours. ;-)

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If you mean representational government with an unchanged record through time - I think Iceland would probably beat all the others.

Also, if you look outside Europe

[applez.livejournal.com]

and ignore Athens...

The Iroquois Confederacy which effectively established a Parliament of tribal interests was a critical regional, and world, player in the 1700s...

Iceland

[applez.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Commonwealth

Of course, Wiki here argues it was more anarcho-capitalist than democratic.