Analysis Of No Bourgeoisie, No Democracy

Barrington Moore’s famous quote, from his 1966 book The Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, “no bourgeoisie, no democracy” refers to the power that the middle class has in the democratization process. Moore looked at the political transitions in eight different countries, and how the revolutions were affected by where they began. When the middle class began the process of revolution, the results were capitalist democracies, whereas revolution from the top brought fascism and from the bottom brought about communism . “However, it is not the direct action of the bourgeoisie that is decisive in Moore’s theory. The strength of the bourgeoisie has a definitive effect upon how rural upper classes and the peasantry approach politics.” Moore’s thesis is historically accurate, as can be seen by looking at many nations around the world. The …show more content…
The erosion of the power of the monarch began with the Magna Carta in 1215, with the nobility pushing to end the tyranny of the monarchs, and in its place, parliament become more powerful throughout the centuries. In the early 19th century, very few people had the right to vote, and the Reform Act of 1832 was created. While this reform expanded the number of people who could vote, property ownership was still a requirement. Pressure from the middle class began as “social movement activity began to develop, perhaps most notably the ‘Chartist movement,’ which drew on industrial workers and used strikes and demonstrations in its effort to expand suffrage and representation.” These social movements pushed for universal suffrage, and in 1918, women were given the right to vote. Moore’s theory that the existence of a strong middle class is critical for the growth of democracy is verified in the UK, as the growing strength of the middle class allowed for democratic reforms to come about, avoiding violent revolution in the