E-democracy: a form of democratic expression through which all those with an interest in a problem or an issue can express themselves via the internet or social media, thereby participating in the shaping of government decision

checks and balances: an arrangement in which government institutions are given powers that counter-balance one another, obliging them to work together in order to govern and make decisions

civil liberties: The rights that citizens have relative to government, and that should not be restricted by the government

liberalism: a belief in the supreme value of the individual, who is seen to have natural rights that exist independently of government, and who must therefore be protected from too much government

limited government: a belief that guarantees must be made for citizens by placing limits on the powers and reach of government

Contestation: the extent to which citizens enjoy unimpaired opportunities to express their political preferences (such as voting or demonstrating)

Inclusiveness: the share of the population that is entitled to participate in the political system

There has to be a serious degree of inclusion of the population into the political process

No real country will ever perfectly attain contestation and inclusion, according to Dahlt, real democracy doesn't exist

You need more than just elections to make democracy meaningful, meaning extensive rights such as demonstrating

structural violence: a term used to describe the social and economic oppression built into a system of government

Modernization: the process of acquiring the attributes of a modern society, or one reflecting contemporary ideas, institutions and norms

Modern: a term used to characterize a state with an industrial or post-industrial economy, affluence, specialized occupations, social mobility, and an urban and educated population

Economic security raises the quality of governance by reducing incentives for corruption

High-income countries have more interest groups to reinforce liberal democracy

Wealth softens class differences, producing a more equal distribution of income and turning the working class away from 'leftist extremism', while the presence of a large middle class tempers class conflict between rich and poor

Education and urbanization also make a difference. Education inculcates democratic and tolerant values, while towns have always been the wellspring of democracy

very long wave, gradual extension of the principles of democracy into political systems (universal suffrage)

characterized by how global it is and how many countries were involved. symbolized by Berlin Wall

Transition: arrangements are made for the new system of government

Consolidation: widespread acceptance of the new system, supported by evidence that it works

Liberalization: initiation of the reform sequence, usually as a result of recognition by authoritarian rulers that change is inevitable

Deepening: democracy evolves from the superficial to the substantial

End of history: the idea that a political, economic, or social system has developed to such an extent that it represents the culmination of the evolutionary process

Populism: a political programme or movement based on championing the rights and interests of the people in the face of the ruling elite