3. Why do some countries have democratic political regimes while others do not?

Question 1

Two broad types of regimes

Answer 1

Democracies and autocracies

Question 2

What is a democracy ?

Answer 2

Citizens hold rulers accountable directly (elections) or indirectly

Question 3

What is an autocracy ?

Answer 3

Rulers are unaccountable

Question 4

3 types of autocracies

Answer 4

Authoritarian, totalitarian and sultanistic

Question 5

2 types of democracies according to Fareed Zakaria

Answer 5

Liberal / illiberal, electoral democracies

Question 6

The only legitimate way to change governments is…

Answer 6

Elections

Question 7

3 countries where presidents try to change the Constitution to stay in power

Answer 7

Bolivia, Turkey, Ivory Coast

Question 8

Characteristics of an illiberal democracies

Answer 8

• Do have elections and universal suffrage
• But lack of civil liberties
–> Fallacy of electoralism

Question 9

Examples of illiberal democracies

Answer 9

Turkey, Russia

Question 10

In addition to elections, other elements of liberal democratic regimes according to…

Answer 10

Larry Diamond, Stanford University

Question 11

Elements of a liberal democratic regime ?

Answer 11

Elections
Horizontal accountability
Vertical accountability
Pluralism
Responsible government, subject to law, NGOs

Question 12

Prerequisites for a regime to be democratic (8)

Answer 12

• Historical patterns (political parties, religion, colonial experience…)
• Rule of law
• Political culture and leadership (compromise)
• A military that knows its place
• A certain level of economic development
• Homogeneity
• Population size (smaller = democracy easier)
• Regional/international factors (UN)

Question 13

If there is not homogeneity, 2 antidotes :

Answer 13

Federalism (institutional method of accommodating heterogeneity) and consociationalism (special institutions provide representation for groups and protect minorities)

Question 14

Measure of income equality ?

Answer 14

The Gini coefficient