The Paradoxes of Contemporary Democracy: Formal, Participatory, and Social Dimensions

Huber, Évelyne; Rueschemeyer, Dietrich; Stephens, John D.

doi:10.2307/422124

Cited by 124 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…1 Scholars have revised this minimal definition by including additional dimensions such as political rights and civil liberties (Diamond 1999); socioeconomic equality (Huber, Rueschemeyer, and Stephens 1997); uncertainty (Przeworski 1991); and the absence of military influence (Schmitter and Karl 1991, 81). Not surprisingly, the number of measures of democracy mirrors this diversity of definitions.…”

Section: Measuring Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation Versus Interchangeability: The Limited Robustness of Empirical Findings on Democracy Using Highly Correlated Data Sets

2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article shows that highly correlated measures can produce different results. We identify a democratization model from the literature and test it in over 120 countries from 1951-1992. Then, we check whether the results are robust regarding measures of democracy, time periods, and levels of development. The findings show that measures do matter: while some of the findings are robust, most of them are not. This explains, in part, why the debates on democracy have continued rather than been resolved. More importantly, it underscores the need for more careful use of measures and further testing to increase confidence in the findings. Scholars in comparative politics increasingly are drawn to large-N statistical analyses, often using datasets collected by others. As in any field, we show how they must be careful in choosing the most appropriate measures for their study, without assuming that any correlated measure will do.

show abstract

Section: Measuring Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation Versus Interchangeability: The Limited Robustness of Empirical Findings on Democracy Using Highly Correlated Data Sets

2003

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For an increasing number o f contributors to the discipline, the connection between a strong state and democratic institutions is obvious (Bunce, 2000;Fukuyama, 2004;Hashim, 2005;Hendley, 1997;Holmes, 1997;Huber, Rueschemeyer, & Stephens, 1999;Kaufman, 1999;Linz & Stepan, 1996;O 'Donnell, 1993;Przeworski, 1995;Roberts & Sherlock, 1999;Sharlet, 1998;Suleiman, 1999;Tilly, 2007;Wang, 1999). As Linz and Stepan (1996) argue, an effective state is essential to support the other building blocks of democratic consolidation (civil, political, economic, and the rule o f law).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There a Necessary Condition for Democracy? The Role of State Capacity in Postcommunist Countries

Fortin

2011

Comparative Political Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although postcommunist countries share a common past, the variability of outcomes in both democracy and economic reform is very large in the region. Only a few countries have become Western-type democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic. By contrast, the norm is clearly not democracy for other Soviet successor states. In this article, the author attributes this variation to differences in the infrastructural capacity of the state. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses within 26 postcommunist countries, the author argues that for democracy to flourish, the state must first possess the necessary means to maintain law and order and to protect the rights of citizens, in other words, to ensure the maintenance and delivery of essential public goods. The results show that the links between a strong state that has been able to apply a definitive set of rules and democratic institutions are clear.

show abstract

“…Democracy opens up the decision-making process to the less privileged, resulting in redistributive policies benefiting these groups. In the case of the subordination of an entire gender, democracy could reduce gender inequality (Huber et al 1997). We distinguish two dimension of democracy (cf.…”

Section: State Islamization and Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We distinguish two dimension of democracy (cf. Huber et al 1997). Formal democracy is the political structure that gives people the possibility to influence policies.…”

Section: State Islamization and Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Compatibility of Islam and Gender Equality

2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although the Muslim world is sometimes depicted as a homogeneous civilization lacking democracy and gender equality, Muslim countries show tremendous economic, political and cultural variation. In this paper, this variation is used to gain insight into the determinants of women's labor market participation (LMP) in the Muslim world. We use data on 45 Muslim countries and apply SEM models to determine effects of modernization, democracy, cultural background, and state Islamization on women's participation in the formal economy (absolute LMP) and on the share of women in the labor force (relative LMP). Women's absolute LMP is higher in Muslim countries with higher levels of economic development and in the oil-exporting countries. For women's relative LMP, practical democracy (the degree to which people actively participate in the system) takes in a key position. It has a strong positive effect on women's relative LMP and mediates the effects of economic development (positive), formal democratic structures (positive) and state Islamization (negative) on women's relative LMP. Results indicate that in these countries modernization may lead to empowerment of women by increasing their absolute LMP, but that for attaining gender equality the political opportunity structures is most important.

show abstract

The Paradoxes of Contemporary Democracy: Formal, Participatory, and Social Dimensions

Cited by 124 publications

References 10 publications

Correlation Versus Interchangeability: The Limited Robustness of Empirical Findings on Democracy Using Highly Correlated Data Sets

Correlation Versus Interchangeability: The Limited Robustness of Empirical Findings on Democracy Using Highly Correlated Data Sets

Is There a Necessary Condition for Democracy? The Role of State Capacity in Postcommunist Countries

On the Compatibility of Islam and Gender Equality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About