V6

Question 1

Principles of Non‐Democracy

Answer 1

• Political power is uni‐directional
• Selectorate
  – Small subset of the population
• Reciprocal accountability between selectorate and government

Question 2

Selectorate Theory

Answer 2

• Leadership (L) and Challenger (C)
  – L has the authority to raise taxes and allocate government funds
  – C attempts to depose L within the “rules” of transition
• Residents(N)
• Selectorate(S)
  – Subset of N with the necessary qualities or characteristics to choose L
• Winning coalition (W)
  – Subset of S required to choose L
  – Coalition will be minimal

Question 3

Problems of authoritarian rule

Answer 3

• Power‐sharing
  – Satisfy members of the coalition by concessions making (policy or resource)
• Mass control
  – Prevent the rise of opposition leaders and popular uprisings
  – Is crucial for the distinction between authoritarian and totalitarian regimes

Question 4

Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian Regimes

Answer 4

• Use of ideology
  – Set of political beliefs that structures political interests and motivates people to act
• Extent of coercive mobilization
  – Forcing people to work for, and publicly support, the regime
• Degree of social and political pluralism
  – Is social and political diversity tolerated?

Question 5

Comparing Institutions of Non‐democratic States

Answer 5

Four criteria
1. Size of the selectorate
2. Admission to the selectorate
3. Rules for selection of leaders
4. Rules for the use of power between leaders and selectorate

Question 6

Regime Change: Domestic Causes

Answer 6

• Argument: high levels of civic engagement, political equality and solidarity lead to democracy
  (Putman)
• Measurement: degree to which people participate in social and political organizations

Class conflict
– Shift from agricultural to industrial economies – Economic empowerment of a new middle class without political rights

• Modernization(Lipset)
  – Economic development triggers cultural changes
  – More educated people demand more participation
• Central tenet: Economic development precedes democratization
• Resource curse: Reliance on natural resources allows governments to repress or pay off citizens

Question 7

Regime Change: Domestic Causes (Military)

Answer 7

• The military is an important actor in an autocratic regime
• Dictators sometimes employ “coup proofing” strategies to prevent defection
• They can block democratic transitions, and even cause reverse transitions through coups

Question 8

Regime Change: International Causes

Answer 8

• US and Soviet foreign policy with different goals (fostering democracy / communism)
• Catholic church: increasingly pushing for democracy since the 1960s
• European Union: conditional membership