Underlying these changes in political systems was a massive social transformation as well. The shift to democracy was a result of millions of formerly passive individuals around the world organizing themselves and participating in the political life of their societies. This social mobilization was driven by a host of factors: greatly expanded access to education that made people more aware of themselves and the political world around them; information technology, which facilitated the rapid spread of ideas and knowledge; cheap travel and communications that allowed people to vote with their feet if they didn't like their government; and greater prosperity, which induced people to demand better protection of their rights.
The third wave crested after the late 1990s, however, a ‘democratic recession' emerged in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Approximately one in five countries that had been part of the third wave either reverted to authoritarianism or saw a significant erosion of democratic institutions. Freedom house noted that 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which freedom had declined around the world, the first time this had happened since it established its measures of freedom in 1973. [279 words]
(Extracted from The Origins of Political Order by Francis Fukuyama)
Understanding the Drivers of Democratization
This question asks us to find which factor was not mentioned in the text from Francis Fukuyama's "The Origins of Political Order" as helping social mobilization and the global shift towards democracy. The passage talks about big political changes and a 'third wave of democratization'.
Factors Driving Social Mobilization Mentioned
The text explains that several key things pushed social mobilization and the move towards liberal democracy. These helped people become more aware and involved in politics:
- Expanded access to education: This made people more aware of themselves and the political world.
- Information technology: This helped ideas and knowledge spread quickly.
- Cheap travel and communications: These gave people more freedom to express their views or move if they disliked their government.
Analyzing the Given Options
Let's look at each option compared to the text:
- Option 1: Increased access to education - The text clearly says this was a factor for social mobilization.
- Option 2: Expanding information technology - The text also clearly mentions information technology helping to spread ideas.
- Option 3: Heightened global military presence - This factor is simply not talked about in the excerpt as a reason for these changes.
- Option 4: Greater prosperity - While the text mentions economic changes and that prosperity led people to demand rights, it doesn't detail 'greater prosperity' as a primary driver for the social mobilization itself in this specific part of the text.
Identifying the Unmentioned Factor
Based on the text provided, the factor that wasn't explicitly detailed as a cause for social mobilization and the shift to democracy is Greater prosperity. The passage focuses more on education and technology as direct triggers for this social movement.
Similar Questions
- From the passage it is evident that:
- Which of the statements is true?
- Which of the following can be inferred as the most significant characteristic of prehistoric humans, as per the passage?
- Which of the following best explains why humans did not initially stand out among other organisms?
- The passage explains the concept of species classification by
- Which of the following aspects is most critical in understanding Freedom House's evaluation process?
- What does the phrase 'vote with their feet' imply in the context of the passage?
- The term 'third wave of democratization' as used in the passage refers to:
- According to this passage, when was the first time the freedom had declined around the world
- Which literary device is most evident in the narrator's line: “one might think the Disposer of All Things sought his counsel in every decision”?
Important Questions from Non Grammar
- From the passage it is evident that:
- Which of the statements is true?
- Which of the following can be inferred as the most significant characteristic of prehistoric humans, as per the passage?
- Which of the following best explains why humans did not initially stand out among other organisms?
- The passage explains the concept of species classification by
