Democratization of Arcadia

The Democratization of Arcadia, known in Arcadia as La Liberacion(Greater Arcadian), A Libertação (Northern Arcadian), or La Liberazione (Western Arcadian) (All: "the Transition")is a period of modern Arcadian history encompassing the regime change that moved from the Medeirist dictatorship to the consolidation of a parliamentary system, in the form of monarchy under Leopoldo I.

According to scholars, the democratization process kickstarted in 1949 with the ascension of Silvio Faraghi as leader, although some say the stage for Faraghi was set after the death of the dictator Cezar Medeiros, in July 1945. Historians disagree on the exact date the transition was completed: some say it ended after the 1962 leneral election, while others place it later, when the 1963 Constitution was approved. Others suggest it ended with the failure of the 1967 attempted coup d'état. At its latest, the Democratization is said to have ended with the first peaceful transfer of executive power, after the victory of the Arcadian Labor Party (PTA) in the 1974 leneral election.

Often cited as a paradigm of peaceful, negotiated transition, political violence during the Arcadian Democratization was far more prevalent than is commonly attributed to the general public. Riots and protests were common throughout much of the 1950s. However, strong economic growth and Faraghi's personal popularity ensured that the Democratization process was not derailed by said violence.

Background and Context

Premier Secretary of Defense Cezar Medeiros came to power in 1923, following the years of instability, and ruled as a dictator until his death in 1945. In 1944, he designated General Angel Vasquez, a long time ally, as his official successor. For the next nine months, General Vasquez initially remained in the background during public appearances and seemed that he would follow Medeiros's footsteps. Once in power, however, his personal leadership style changed heavily from that of Medeiros.

Vasquez was a believer in moderate reform and courted a step by step plan to reinstall a more liberal government. While he eventually wanted to see a democratic Arcadia, he believed that years of dictatorship had sullied the ability of the Arcadian citizenry to participate in an election. Furthermore, Vasquez was a staunch republican and wished to continue with Medeiros's anti-monarchist policies. What is now called the Vasquez Plan was based in restraint and slow movements towards democracy.

Vasquez's hand was much lighter than that of Medeiros. Vasquez returned local governing power to local and provincial governments, decentralizing power away from the national government. However, Vasquez alienated many of the elites in the Arcadian Movement, the ruling party. Vasquez died suddenly of a heart attack at a relatively young age, only 57 years old. With no designated successor, the Arcadian Movement established a special council, the Committee of Nine to selet a successor for Vasquez.