Democratization or Shift of Control?

">citizens and the House of Lords which is not
Democracy is the ‘people’s rule’elected and, therefore cannot represent the
who are willing to govern themselves directly orpeople’s will actually. Next, the Great Britain
through their representatives. Through centuriesforeign policy towards Canada, Australia and New
there have been thousands of single persons,Zealand looks like authoritarianism rather than
organizations and even states which pretendeddemocratic reflection of Canadian, Australian and
being ‘people’s representatives’Zealand people’s will.
in order to take control over society.Another bright example of democratization
However, the humankind has determined a fewprocess is the history of Germany. While
successful democratization processes whichdemocratization in Britain was caused by internal
seemed to truly represent people’s will.sources the Germany was involved in this
The history has shown such processes havingprocess mainly by external demands. It can be
held in some European countries, e.g. Germany,explained by German rather late participation in
Britain, France, Italy etc. Are theirdemocracy movement. It can also be explained
‘people’s representatives’ rulingby historical background of this country which
systems really working?suffered from autocrats’ periods and,
History of Britain demonstrates well the gradual,therefore forced segmentation of German
vast and successful democratization process insociety.
this country. It began in the beginning of theGerman democratization is featured by growth of
nineteenth century with the franchise expansioncorporative unions. The popularization of such
which reflected further Reform Acts of 1832 andunions can be explained by historically segmented
1884. The British democratization was due tosociety and promotion of ‘people’s
internal process which was reflected in massinterests’ by these unions. The corporatist
marches and protests for electoral rights. Theorganizations, established and developed during
British Parliament was the body which reacteddemocratization process in Germany, gained so
actively to the public movements and promotedwide-spread and great power as their influence on
human rights on the institutional level. This activesocial processes and impact on political decisions
participation in social reforms effected significantsignificantly surpassed the state power. These
parliamentarian reforms which brought public directcorporatist organizations could ignore the state
influence on political decisions andinstitutional decisions and make their own issues
democratizes’ presence in the House ofwhich obtained legitimacy by public decisions. Such
Commons. The restriction of monarch power bycases occurred when corporatist activists were
the Parliament started the Parliamentaryinvolved in defending social reforms aimed to
monarchy in Britain. The British Parliament greatlyimprove employees’ social programs and
influenced the British internal affairs and externalto pull down unemployment in the country. In
politics.fact, unions did much for German citizens and
One of the greatest advantages of British formmanaged to establish excellent working conditions,
of democratization was demonstration ofsocial guarantees and prosperity for working class.
democracy success and its initiation in otherThis lasted till corporate unions’ interests
countries. However, it is obvious the Britishand employees’ needs coincided. The
democratization resulted in the shift of real powermodern history globalization wave has offered
and control to the Parliament and compromisingcheap workforce and manufacturing outside
restriction of the British monarch family expensesGermany. Yet, trade unions keep attempting at
on its living.German employees’ rights protection but
Now the Parliament has the House ofno any significant progress has been shown.
Representatives who are elected by British