Synopses & Reviews
This book is a uniquely wide-ranging study of the meaning of democracy and the factors which determine its level. Drawing on data from all 132 sovereign states of the Third World, it first specifies the essential elements of democracy (the holding of elections to decision making bodies, and the maintenance of political liberties), and then tests theories suggested to explain its varying level through statistical analysis. Theories related to socio-economic conditions, demographic and cultural factors, and institutional arrangements are explored in a cross-national perspective.
Review
"This book is worthwhile reading for both the newcomer to democratic theory and the expert seeking empirical work on the requisites of democracy in a global setting." Harvard International Review
Review
"A welcome contribution to the growing literature on democratization; its empirical findings will raise debates and controversies." R. Fatton Jr., Choice
Review
"His ideas, data and analytical techniques will - and should- be widely utilized and revised by others to retest and refine, refute, or broaden his conclusions." American Political Science Review
Synopsis
This book is a wide-ranging study of the meaning of democracy and the factors which determine its level.
Table of Contents
List of tables and figure; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. Determining the Level of Democracy: 1. Points of departure; 2. Political democracy; 3. An index of democracy; Part II. Explaining the Level of Democracy: 4. Introduction; 5. Socio-economic conditions; 6. Demographic and cultural conditions; 7. Institutional conditions; 8. General picture and problems of causality; Appendices; Notes; Bibliography; Index.