--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tend to be one of those who does not…" description: "\"I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. The emphasis ought to be on such things as rule of law, ec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e67/richard-n-haass-3803_democracy_i-tend-to-be-one-of-those-who-does-not-e_581606.jpg" --- # I tend to be one of those who does not equate… ![“I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. The emphasis ought to be on such things as rule of law, economic reform, and promotion of a free media - in short, essentially independent, free institutions.” quote by Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e67/richard-n-haass-3803_democracy_i-tend-to-be-one-of-those-who-does-not-e_581606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e67/richard-n-haass-3803_democracy_i-tend-to-be-one-of-those-who-does-not-e_581606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e67/richard-n-haass-3803_democracy_i-tend-to-be-one-of-those-who-does-not-e_581606.jpg) > “I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. The emphasis ought to be on such things as rule of law, economic reform, and promotion of a free media - in short, essentially independent, free institutions.” [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is more than voting; it requires law, economic reform, and a free press to ensure independent institutions. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs law, economy, media, not just elections. Key Takeaway Focus on building strong institutions, not just elections. Themes governance institutional integrity media freedom economic reform rule of law Mood thoughtful critical optimistic Type analytical policy-oriented When to use this quote - policy drafting - civil society development - media reform - economic restructuring - international aid Key Concepts democratic theory institutional design press freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can societies safeguard institutions from capture? - What role does civil society play in maintaining media independence? A Different Perspective Even with strong institutions, entrenched elites may resist reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratization/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy doesn't just consist of holding elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-scowcroft/democracy-doesn-t-just-consist-of-holding-elections/) [Brent Scowcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-scowcroft/) > [What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/what-countries-must-do-to-join-the-world-trade-organization-is/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/literacy-is-a-bridge-from-misery-to-hope-it-is-a-tool-for-daily-life/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In the new music landscape, with is the democratization of the internet and music in general, I think it can be a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/in-the-new-music-landscape-with-is-the-democratization-of-the/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [Worker-owned co-ops, on their own, floating in the market, tend to replicate the behavior of worker-owned capitalists in some circumstances. They sometimes develop positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/worker-owned-co-ops-on-their-own-floating-in-the-market-tend-to/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope... Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/literacy-is-a-bridge-from-misery-to-hope-especially-for-girls-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The commercialization of sport is the democratization of sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/the-commercialization-of-sport-is-the-democratization-of-sport/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“Most Romans believed that their system of government was the finest political invention of the human mind. Change was inconceivable. Indeed, the constitution's various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-everitt/most-romans-believed-that-their-system-of-government-was-the-finest/) [Anthony Everitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-everitt/) > [Journalism has changed tremendously because of the democratization of information. Anybody can put something up on the Internet. It's harder and harder to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/journalism-has-changed-tremendously-because-of-the-democratization-of/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/for-everyone-everywhere-literacy-is-along-with-education-in-general-a/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“The Internet has long been heralded as an unprecedented instrument of democratization and liberalization, even emancipation. But in the eyes of the US government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/the-internet-has-long-been-heralded-as-an-unprecedented-instrument-of/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I think in the old music, everything was so competitive. It was all about - very selfish in a lot of ways. The label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/i-think-in-the-old-music-everything-was-so-competitive-it-was-all/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [The web is not going to change the world, certainly not in the next 10 years. It's going to augment the world. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-web-is-not-going-to-change-the-world-certainly-not-in-the-next-10/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The democratization of news is fine and splendid, but it's not reporting. It's based on a fragment of information picked up from television or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-democratization-of-news-is-fine-and-splendid-but-it-s-not/) [Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/) > [Liberalization and democratization are in essence counter-revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-grechko/liberalization-and-democratization-are-in-essence-counter-revolution/) Andrei Grechko ## More by Richard N. Haass > [Terrorists and terrorism cannot be eliminated any more than we can rid the world of disease. There will always be those who will resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/terrorists-and-terrorism-cannot-be-eliminated-any-more-than-we-can/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [There is no way to know for certain what accounts for North Korean decisionmaking, given how closed a country it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/there-is-no-way-to-know-for-certain-what-accounts-for-north-korean/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Security is the absolute precondition for sustainable recovery from conflict; without it, people cannot rebuild their country or return to school or work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/security-is-the-absolute-precondition-for-sustainable-recovery-from/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/when-great-powers-fade-as-they-inevitably-must-it-s-normally-for-one/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Americans never would alter the way entitlement programs are funded or education administered without serious study and widespread debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/americans-never-would-alter-the-way-entitlement-programs-are-funded/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Sovereignty must be redefined if states are to cope with globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/sovereignty-must-be-redefined-if-states-are-to-cope-with-globalisation/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [America's armed forces are an essential background to much of what the U.S. accomplishes internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/america-s-armed-forces-are-an-essential-background-to-much-of-what/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [No one pursuing reasonable goals and who is prepared to compromise can argue that terrorism is his or his group's only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-one-pursuing-reasonable-goals-and-who-is-prepared-to-compromise/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [The rise of populism is in part a response to stagnating incomes and job loss, owing mostly to new technologies but widely attributed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/the-rise-of-populism-is-in-part-a-response-to-stagnating-incomes-and/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [We all have some basic obligation to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/we-all-have-some-basic-obligation-to-one-another/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [What countries must do to join the World Trade Organization is precisely what they must do to become productive and democratic: accept the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/what-countries-must-do-to-join-the-world-trade-organization-is/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe in diplomacy; I don't believe in talking to... that talking to Iran somehow constitutes a concession or a favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-believe-in-diplomacy-i-don-t-believe-in-talking-to-that-talking-to/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I've worked for four presidents, and I've concluded that almost nothing is inevitable. History is to a significant extent the result of the interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/i-ve-worked-for-four-presidents-and-i-ve-concluded-that-almost/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) [Explore all 121 Richard N. Haass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tend to be one of those who does not equate democratization with the holding of elections. 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