Win some, lose some: while many countries are moving toward more democratic systems, others cling to authoritarian rule.(DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT--GLOBAL)

Publication: Canada and the World Backgrounder

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The growth of democracy is a constant struggle to wrest power from the hands of self-preserving elites. In recent years, the elites have been booted out of their privileged spots in many places--Venezuela, Bolivia, Ukraine, Georgia, the Philippines--all were peaceful changes.

A 2005 report published by Freedom House shows that nonviolent "people power" movements are the strongest force in most successful transitions to democracy. The report focusses on 67 countries where dictatorships have fallen since 1972. It found that peaceful civic resistance including boycotts, mass protests, blockades, strikes, and civil disobedience were the best weapons against authoritarian rulers. But, the study also points out that transitions from authoritarian rule do not always lead to freedom. "When tyrannies or closed systems fall, democracy is far from the only outcome. Among the 67 countries we examined, pre-transition none were free, 31 were partly free, and 36 were not free. Today, 35 are free, 23 are partly free, and nine are not free."

The report comments on the scale of civic resistance that surprised the world in Ukraine in November-December 2004.

That's when millions of citizens filled the streets (below) in their quest for free and fair elections. Their struggle became known as the Orange Revolution but Freedom House says it...

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