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A peaceful transition or transfer of power is a concept important to democratic governments in which the leadership of a government peacefully hands over control of government to a newly elected leadership. This may be after elections or during the transition from a different kind of political regime, such as the post-communist period after the fall of the Soviet Union.[1]
In scholarship examining democratization and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to constitutional democracy and the relative stability of that government.[2][3][4][5] A 2014 study concluded that 68 countries had never had a peaceful transition of power due to an election since 1788.[6][1]
Democratization studies
[edit]In scholarship examining democratization and emerging democracies, study of the successful transitions of power is used to understand the transition to constitutional democracy and the relative stability of that government (democratic consolidation).[2][3][4][5]
A 2014 study by Adam Przeworski of 3,000 elections from 1788 to 2008, published in the journal Comparative Political Studies concluded that 68 countries (including Russia and China) had never had a peaceful transition of power between parties following an election, making it a "rare and a recent practice."[6][1] The same study found that once a country has an initial peaceful transfer of power (an "alternation"), it is very likely to keep doing so, making the peaceful transition of power a habit-forming activity.[6][1] In a stable institutionalized democracy, a peaceful transition is the expected outcome of an election.[6][1]
Peaceful transitions require a number of strong democratic institutions and norms to exist, such as the willingness of opposition parties to serve as a loyal opposition. Transitions by election put power holders in vulnerable positions, as not only do they risk potential changes in policy and practice and thus their means of power, but they also risk political retribution or retaliation.[7]
By region
[edit]The first peaceful transition of power in a country is often treated as an important stage in a government transition towards democracy such as seen in elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[8] Successful transitions during tense political moments such as the Velvet Revolution in Armenia in 2018 are interpreted as signs of improved governance within the country, an important milestone in democratization and functioning civil society.[9] Alternately, the lack of peaceful transfers of power, such as in elections in Georgia from 1995 to 2008 in which the only transition between presidents was via the 2003 Rose Revolution, may harm the international reputation of the country as a "democracy".[10]
Africa
[edit]Since achieving independence from European colonial powers, Africa has had a mixed record in achieving peaceful transitions of power, with variations among nations.[11]
The first peaceful transition of power between civilians in Nigeria took place in 2007, although the outgoing and incoming presidents were of the same party and the preceding election was characterized by widespread irregularities.[12] In 2018, Liberia had its first electoral transfer of power since 1944.[13] The first peaceful transition of power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo took place in 2019, with outgoing president Joseph Kabila yielding power to opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi.[14] The first transition of power from one democratically elected leader to another in Niger took place in 2021, briefly overcoming the nation's history of coups d'etat[15] before another military coup occurred in 2023.[16]
Asia
[edit]Indonesia
[edit]- Symbolism
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2022) |
The symbol of peaceful transition of power is when the outgoing president and/or vice president, after their respective successors recite the oath of office, switch chairs, so that the incumbent president is on the furthest left side of the altar at the People's Consultative Assembly main session's room, and the sitting vice president is immediately on the right side of the speaker and deputies speaker's desk. As of 2022[update], starting in 1978, the vice presidents always did this symbolic transfer when there was no vacancy in the office except in 2004, when Hamzah Haz did not attend the ceremony, and in 2009, when Jusuf Kalla was already seated on the furthest right side so no switch was needed. For presidents, as of 2025[update], this symbol of peaceful transition happened only three times, in 1999 during the inauguration of Abdurrahman Wahid, in 2014 for the first inauguration of Joko Widodo, and 2024 for the inauguration of Prabowo Subianto.
Europe
[edit]Georgia
[edit]The transfer of power resulting from the 2012 Georgian parliamentary election was considered an important case of peaceful transfer of power in the post-Soviet political development of Georgia, which, since the Soviet period, had earlier gone through changes such as the Rose Revolution in 2003.[10]
North America
[edit]United States
[edit]A peaceful transition of power has been the norm in United States presidential transitions, with all elections resulting in peaceful transitions of power except for the 2020 election. The transition from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson in 1801 was considered an important milestone for the country's fledgling democracy. It was the first time the presidency was handed over to a political opponent. From then until 2020, the losing party in every presidential election "willingly and peacefully" relinquished power to the opposition.[17][18] The transition is institutionalized through symbolic acts like the presidential inaugurations.[19][20] Outgoing U.S. presidents traditionally attend the inaugurations of their successors, a symbol of the peaceful passage of power from one administration to the next.[21] Historically contentious elections, such as the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, did not derail this peaceful transition process. Despite the contested results and the subsequent Supreme Court ruling that ultimately determined the outcome, the tradition of the losing party accepting the result and facilitating a smooth handover of power endured. With Gore making especially sure that the results of the elections were respected and ensured, Bush was accepted as President by his supporters despite the various continuous legal battles. This concept of "loser's consent" plays a vital role in maintaining democratic stability:[22] political parties in the U.S. have come to accept electoral defeat as part of the democratic process, reinforcing the idea that the legitimacy of the electoral system depends on the willingness of political actors to adhere to its outcomes.
During the 2020 presidential election, experts described a risk of democratic backsliding in the U.S.,[23][24] as incumbent Republican President Donald Trump publicly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost his reelection bid.[25] In September 2020, after Trump's statements, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution committing to a peaceful transition of power and opposing any attempt "by the President or any person in power to overturn the will of the people of the United States"; many senators cited the peaceful transition of power's centrality to U.S. democracy.[26] Business leaders also made statements calling for a peaceful transfer.[27] Trump stated on 15 October 2020 that he would accept a peaceful transfer (after a long period of ambiguous answers to the question) while still falsely alleging fraud.[28]
Trump was defeated in the 2020 election by Joe Biden in both the popular vote and the electoral vote, but refused to accept defeat. Trump falsely claimed election fraud, initiated a seven-part plan to overturn the election, and engaged in an aggressive and unprecedented[29][30] campaign to remain in power.[31] Trump's fellow Republicans had varied reactions to Trump's false election-fraud claims.[32][33][34][35] Trump's strong grip on the Republican Party led to a majority of the party supporting or refusing to actively oppose him.[36] Among those who stood firm against Trump's attempts to subvert the 2020 election results were Vice President Mike Pence, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and the courts. Pence, despite intense pressure from Trump to reject the Electoral College results, upheld his constitutional duty by certifying Biden's victory. Pence's stance was crucial in safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process. Similarly, Raffensperger, a Republican, resisted Trump's phone call pressuring him to "find" enough votes to alter Georgia's outcome. Raffensperger and his team, despite immense political pressure, upheld the accurate count. The courts also played a vital role in protecting democracy. Across the country, judges dismissed numerous baseless lawsuits aimed at overturning the results, reinforcing that the election was fair and legitimate.[citation needed]
On 6 January 2021, a pro-Trump mob, inflamed by Trump's false claims, attacked the Capitol in Washington, D.C., in a failed attempt to keep Trump in power. The mob disrupted the counting of the electoral votes by a joint session of Congress for several hours.[37][38][39] Five people died either shortly before, during, or following the attack.[40] Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell noted that "if this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral."[41] On 7 January 2021, Trump condemned the riots and committed to the peaceful transition of power, but refused to mention Biden's name in his farewell address and did not attend Biden's inauguration.[42] After he transferred power, he routinely repeated election lies and defended the riots.[43]
Debate continues as to whether the events of the 2020 election represent a temporary aberration or a deeper, more sustained threat to the democratic fabric of the nation. Some argue that the rise of political polarization, the spread of disinformation, and the increasing willingness of political actors to reject established norms could point to a more profound crisis of legitimacy;[44] others believe that the resilience of U.S. institutions in the face of these challenges demonstrates that the foundations of democracy, while tested, remain robust.[45]
The aftermath of the 2024 election saw a peaceful transfer of power between Biden and a returning Trump, resuming the hallmark of peaceful transitions between presidents.
South America
[edit]In Venezuela in 1958, the Puntofijo Pact allowed a political agreement to respect the election results,[46] allowing for a peaceful transition of power after the ouster of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez and during the country's democratic period.[47]
See also
[edit]References
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- ^ a b Tamarkin, M. (1979). "From Kenyatta to Moi: The Anatomy of a Peaceful Transition of Power". Africa Today. 26 (3): 21–37. ISSN 0001-9887. JSTOR 4185874.
- ^ a b Mangu, Andre Mbata B. (1 June 2004). "DR Congo: the long road from war to peace and challenges for peaceful transition and national reconstruction". Africa Insight. 34 (2_3): 31–38. ISSN 0256-2804. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b Ahmed, Jasem Mohamad (2012). "Democracy and the problem of peaceful transfer of power". Journal of Al-Frahedis Arts. 04 (10). Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d Przeworski, Adam (1 January 2015). "Acquiring the Habit of Changing Governments Through Elections". Comparative Political Studies. 48 (1): 101–129. doi:10.1177/0010414014543614. ISSN 0010-4140. S2CID 154441890. (subscription required)
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- ^ a b Giorgi, Benashvili. "Peaceful transfer of political power and its characteristics in Georgia. The Georgian parliamentary elections of 2012". Instrument Bibliometric National. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ O'Hanlon, Michael; Brigety, Reuben; Opalo, Ken (27 November 2018). "Power transitions in Africa". Brookings. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
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- ^ "All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory". The Washington Post. 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Peaceful Transition of Power". National Archives. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Fortin, Jacey (19 January 2021). "Trump Is Not the First President to Snub an Inauguration". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ Garrison, Joey. "A president hasn't refused to attend the inauguration of his successor in 152 years. Donald Trump will change that". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Layman, Geoffrey; Lee, Frances; Wolbrecht, Christina (2023). "Political Parties and Loser's Consent in American Politics". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 708: 164–183. doi:10.1177/00027162241229309.
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Trump's efforts to cling to power are unprecedented in American history. While political parties have fought over the results of presidential elections before, no incumbent president has ever made such expansive and individualized pleas to the officials who oversee certification of the election results.
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President Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election are unprecedented in American history and an even more audacious use of brute political force to gain the White House than when Congress gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency during Reconstruction.
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