OU on the BBC: Looking For Democracy - About The Programmes

BBC California/US: Over-Democracy
California would be voted most democratic place on earth: there are elections for almost every public post - including the judiciary (is this healthy?) and school boards. There have also been dozens of 'ballot initiatives' which can be forced on the electorate if enough signatures are collected. So in one sense California has a very pure form of democracy. On the other hand, in largely Spanish-speaking Santa Ana, a sizeable percentage of the citizens are illegal, and have no democratic rights.

Cambodia: Imposed Democracy
Following the US-led attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan, the democratization process in both these countries has just begun. But one country, Cambodia, has now had a decade to accustom itself to a system of government introduced by an outside body. It is now widely conceded that the UNTAC supervised elections of 1993 were flawed and part of a deeply flawed process. Desperate not to be mired in internal conflict, UN personnel had mostly left Cambodia by 1995. They left a country in which there is almost no civil society, and in which there is debilitating corruption at every layer of government - from the judiciary, to the press, to politics.

Ukraine: People's Democracy
The orange-revolution, led by Viktor Yushchenko, was a dramatic expression of people power. How much more democratic can political action get than in the mass exercise of the popular will? The conditions were all in place for the campaign of street protests to be effective. There was a charismatic leader figure, a growing and educated middle class, an independent (enough) judiciary - and, a point often overlooked, a renewed pride in the country (a result, not least, of triumph in the Eurovision song contest). And yet there are real drawbacks to people power. The expectations on Yuschenko to deliver are now immense - far more so than if his victory had arisen purely through the ballot box.

Bahrain: Islamic Democracy
Like several Arab states, Bahrain has a limited form of democracy. It also has the veneer of a western life-style, with McDonalds and Starbucks (and alcohol). Just a few years ago Bahrain was known for its brutal repression, but under a new ruler, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, the state has freed political prisoners and held elections (2002). Women were allowed to vote and run for office. The Bush administration points to Bahrain as a country moving in the right direction. However, many in the majority Shiite population claim these changes have only been artificial. And although women were given the vote, most still wear the shroud-like black abayas. Meanwhile, nearly half the cabinet are members of the King's family.

Uganda: No-Party-Democracy
President Museveni has always banned political parties - arguing that a western model is not appropriate to a developing country and that parties would inevitably divide along ethnic lines, thus entrenching division. Following a referendum, political parties are now to be reintroduced. But can one have a democracy without parties?

Looking For Democracy in more depth: