Readings

Question 1

Joseph Schumpeter

Answer 1

Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy
Main Argument: There exists a common good and a common will of the people (reasonable individuals). but there is no such things as a common good that everyone agrees on, and even if a common good is agreed upon, specific situations would still be argued over. Actual results produced by political decisions may not match the “will of the people”.
Main Argument 2: Democracy is just a system in which rulers are selected by competitive elections

Question 2

Larry Diamond

Answer 2

Defining and Developing Democracy
Main Argument: Democracy is a civilian, constitutional system in which the legislative and chief executive offices are filled through regular, competitive, multiparty elections with universal suffrage

Question 3

Terry Lynn Karl and Philippe Schmitter

Answer 3

What Democracy Is… and Is Not
Main Argument: There are many types of democracies and they each come about as a result of a countries unique context. What they have in common, however, is that they offer a variety of competitive processes and channels for the expression of interests and value. The ultimate benefit of democratic governance is the creation of a system where clear rules, accountability, and citizen participation provide opportunities for self-correction

Question 4

William A Galston

Answer 4

The Populist Challenged to Liberal Democracy
Main Argument: Populism sets up distinct classes of people (one with power and one without it) and pits them against each other. Left unchecked, it can undermine liberal democracy by limiting freedom of the press, weakening constitutional courts, concentrating power in the executive, and marginalizing groups of citizens. It does this by appealing to the republican ideal of popular sovereignty being the ultimate source of power and it’s will superseding other check and balances.

Question 5

Fareed Zakaria

Answer 5

The Rise of Illiberal Democracy
Main Argument: There have been a rising number of governmental systems that reduce constitutional liberalism but continue to have elections. These elections create the illusion of popular sovereignty and allow a limited number of agents (like a president) to consolidate power and limit checks on their power.

Question 6

Sheri Berman

Answer 6

The Pipedream of Undemocratic Liberalism
Main Argument: Democracy and liberalism are two independent forces that work to check and balance each other. Democracy alone can lead to tyrannical majoritarianism while liberalism alone can lead to elitist oligarchy. Illiberal democracy is a stop on the road towards liberal democracy.

Question 7

Levitsky and Way

Answer 7

The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism
Main Argument: Competitive autocracies maintain significant “arenas of contestation” between incumbent leadership and political opposition. Yet incumbents violate the rules of electoral competition so egregiously that these regimes should be viewed as subtypes of authoritarianism rather than democracy. Noting that competitive authoritarian regimes could develop after the decay or collapse of authoritarian regimes as well as through the decay of a democratic regime

Question 8

Levitsky and Ziblatt

Answer 8

How Democracies Die:
Main Argument: Norms and political forbearances (not exercising the full extent of a branch’s power such that it encroached on another branch) are an important part of keeping a democracy alive. Also talks about incrementalism which is the idea that backsliding is hard to counter because it happens very slowly and in so many different sectors that it can be difficult to notice and develop a plan against.

Question 9

Preworski, et al.

Answer 9

Economic Development and Political Regimes
Main Argument: Exogenous argument, democracies are just more likely to survive within a wealthy country but having a wealthy country does not necessarily mean that a democracy will emerge.

Question 10

Lipsit

Answer 10

Main Argument: Modernization (and as a result economic prosperity) leads to a political democracy. Democracy is endogenous.The level of economic development is the best predictor of political regime. Wealth lowers intensity of distributional conflicts and increases education (education leads to embracing democratic ideals).

Question 11

Levin-Waldman

Answer 11

Main Argument: Growing calls for redistribution causes and a increasingly rich elite causes a sharp divide. This then undermines democracy as those with economic power convert that power into political power and create a system in which their votes and opinions matter more than those in lower economic classes.

Question 12

Ross

Answer 12

What we’ve learned about the resourse curse
Main Argument: If the general principle is that those who pay taxes get political rights in exchange (and some protection for social/economic ones), then when a country who’s wealth comes primarily from resources and a group of people owns those resources, then it is that small number that will get protections and rights. This then undermines democracy

Question 13

Huntington

Answer 13

Main Argument: Some cultures are more willing to accept democracy. As in the culture of a place pre-determines whether democracy will come about and if it does, if it will persist.

Question 14

Inglehart and banker

Answer 14

Main Argument: Modernization brings about changes in traditional values such that culture becomes more accepting of democracy.

Question 15

Stepan and Robertson

Answer 15

Though there do seem to be patterns of which cultures become democracies, these patterns have less to do with the culture and more to do with multiple other factors (the resource curse for example). ie just because Islamic countries tend to not be democracies does not mean that Islam is not conducive towards it (Malaysia exists).

Question 16

Linz

Answer 16

Perils of Presidentialism
Main Argument: because presidential system have a singular party who can claim popular sovereignty, those systems are most susceptible to instability because it is easier for that one person to then attempt to undermine liberalism and democratic principles by increasing their own power. ie populism

Question 17

Haggard and Kaufman

Answer 17

Democratic backsliding is increasingly occurring at the hands of elected officials. The circumstances that lead to the voting of such populist individuals in the first place are: polarization; realignments of party systems that enable elected autocrats to gain legislative power; and the incremental nature of derogations, which divides oppositions and keeps them off balance (ie removing horizontal checks on executive discretion).

Question 18

Kendall-Taylor and Frantz

Answer 18

As a result of economic hardship, unease with globalization and immigration, an established elite, and a growing sense that “the people” don’t have a voice have all propelled populist movements into positions of political power. And due to its slow, incremental nature, it’s difficult to counter.

Question 19

Margalit

Answer 19

Rather than economic insecurity, changes in immigration patters (often framed economically but often understood culturally) and cultural grievances better explain the road that can then lead to populism (characterized here by a claim to represent the will of the people vs some “other”). In many ways, economic change can trigger grievances expressed along cultural lines and cultural changes can trigger discontent around economic issues.

Question 20

Hyde

Answer 20

One major threat to democracy is that international powers are no longer promoting democracy the way they used to, causing situations like that in Hong Kong in which perhaps years earlier, the city may have gotten more international aid.

Question 21

Tesler

Answer 21

Rather than economic anxiety driving racial resentment, it seems more likely that racial resentment causes worsening perceptions of the economy.

Question 22

bartels

Answer 22

Democracy is already unequal as the rich currently have more power/influence.