4. Economic development

Question 1

How does economic growhth/ decline affect democratisation

And economic crisis

Answer 1

When there is a big economic growth –> people are less inclined to protest
Mainly affects transition –> change is needed if something does not work
Economic crisis makes transition to democracy more likely, people want to get rid of dictoator
However, crisis can destabilise both autocracies and democracies

Economic crisis is a regime neutral destabiliser.
Economic growth for democratic stability especially important for poor countries with high debt:
countries can’t pay their debt or invest in public services to keep people happy, destabilises regime

Question 2

How does economic development affect democratisation?

Answer 2

Distinction between first and other waves.
1st waves: economic development meant democratic transition, nowadays not anymore.

Economic development improves stability of regime: so regime neutral
When you are richer= you can proivde security and public services due to higher income taxes, so citizens are happier.
in rich countries citizens are more able to hold their rulers accountable because they’re more educated and have an income that is separate from the ruling power. they’re more powerful because they’re more independent from the state.
doesn’t always work this way, a lot of authoritarian regimes have a powerful hold over their people.
poor countries reverse problem. low development, no security or public services. this is why democracy can’t stabilise here.
opposite claims because people are more worried about their survival and not politics, but they’re also very unhappy so they can start to protest.

Question 3

How does economic inequality