DEMOCRACY & DEMOCRATIZATION Theories and Approaches

Theories of Democracy Structural theories Voluntarist theories Posit a relationship between political characteristics and democracy (e.g., economic development, class, etc.). Voluntarist theories Posit a relationship between political characteristics and democracy (e.g., leadership, political institutions, etc.)

Structural vs. Voluntarist Theories Modernization theory suggests that poor countries should modernize first, then democratize. Voluntarist theories contend that a sole focus on economics overlooks political attributes such as the international system, public opinion, leadership, institutions, etc.

Structural Theories I Modernization theory (Lipset, 1959) A strong relationship between modernization and democracy Wealthier countries are more likely to be democracies due to four factors: wealth, industrialization, urbanization, and education Where development occurs too rapidly, this can cause problems. Countries should modernize first, democratize second

Modernization Diagram MODERNIZATION THEORY

Path Dependency MODERNIZATION THEORY Major events can provide “momentum” for the continuation of democracy Education increases support for democracy by increasing tolerance and political understanding Development creates a middle class which moderates the political system Democracy creates cross cutting cleavages that further reduce the likelihood for violence

Evaluating Modernization Theory There is a strong correlation between wealth and democracy Correlation does not equal causation Theorists have struggled to explain the exact causal mechanism that underlines this relationship Is it economic development that fosters democracy? Or are other factors associated with wealthy countries? Difficult to explain backsliding countries Difficult to explain why many wealthy countries are not democracies

Neo-Modernization Theory Schumpeterian definition of democracy Per capita income works well as a predictor of regime type But, some wealthy countries are dictatorship, and some poor countries are democracies Investigates whether or not development aids the emergence of democracy (endogenous), or sustains democracy (exogenous)

Structural Theories II Marxist theories Capitalist class structure more favorable to democracy than pre-capitalist class structure Capitalist class structure: owners of capital vs. laborers Pre-capitalist class structure: landowners vs. peasants Pre-capitalist elites rely on coercion to get labor, capitalist elites rely on markets Implication: democracy is (1) a violent process, (2) not an automatic function of economic development, (3) a function of big, structural forces, not individuals.

Structural Theories II Class-based theories (Moore, 1969) “No bourgeoisie no democracy” (UK & France) Landed elite & bourgeoisie shared similar preferences Where democratization did not threaten their position, democracy is adopted; Or where democracy threatens their position, their preference must be changed Landed elite’s interests were changed to allow for liberalization Where a strong bourgeoisie exists, democracy can take hold

Comparison: UK & France United Kingdom Landed elites could make more selling wool than keeping peasants Alliances with the bourgeoisie on wool trade linked preferences of the landed elites with the bourgeoisie This united the landed elites with the bourgeoisie against the monarch Enclosures weakened the peasantry Weak peasantry and weakened monarchy resulted in liberalization

Comparison: UK & France Bourgeoisie was split between those who could be bought by the monarch and those who could not Landed elites and ennobled bourgeoisie extracted rent from serfs Ties to the monarch made reliance on state coercion to increase rents and necessity Peasantry tied to the land, and increasingly angry revolted to overthrow the monarch and the feudal system Liberalization occurs after the old system is disbanded

Voluntarist Theories Countries with all the wrong structural conditions can still achieve democracy if certain political conditions are favorable Two political factors in particular are important Crafting of compromises Leadership Providing security to losers There are various ways to democracy Politics matters!

Di Palma: Is Democracy a Hot House Plant? VOLUNTARIST THEORY Democracy was founded in a unique environment Debunks the “hothouse” idea, as different states make different choices Certain political attributes (wealth, ethnic divisions, culture) may make the adoption of certain political institutions difficult When democracy is seen not as a key to prosperity but as a way to protect against arbitrary rule, preferences for democracy change Democracy has its faults, but is seen as superior in terms of reducing oppression Desire for coexistence is key, rather than the structural attributes of a state

Evaluating Voluntarist Theories Not all systems can reach agreement on the right institutions Not every system has leaders who make the “right” decisions for democracy Economic weakness may limit the ability of leaders to make the right decisions