Democracies, autocracies and transitions (73220021FY)
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Summary Democracies, Autocracies and Transitions (DAT): Notes for Exam
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Democracies, autocracies and transitions (73220021FY)
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Universiteit Van Amsterdam (UvA)
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Democracies, autocracies and transitions (73220021FY)
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DAT Endterm Notes
Lecture 1: Introduction
Prezworski et al. argue that elections provide instruction to the government to minimize dissatisfaction with how we are
governed.
This is done via competitive elections that should be repeated to inspire responsiveness and accountability.
Sen: Democracy as a universal value
A country becomes fit through democracy.
It refutes any economic preconditions that pave the way for the establishment of a democracy.
The exercise of political rights (such as voting, criticizing, protesting, and the like) can make a real difference to the political
incentives that operate on a government.
The example of policies that led to famine and the lack of opposition to criticise them.
Famines are easy to prevent if there is a serious effort to do so, and a democratic government, facing elections and
criticisms from opposition parties and independent newspapers, cannot help but make such an effort.
The value of democracy Explanations Example (India)
→ It is valuable for its own sake; it has
1. Instrinsic → Every election is a festival of democracy
normative implications
2. Instrumental → An instrument to achieve desirable → Going voting is how the state recognizes
DAT Endterm Notes 1
, The value of democracy Explanations Example (India)
outcomes like accountability people and their needs.
→ Contributes to the formation of values; → It helps society form its values and priorities
3. Constructive
inspires positive change which could transcend cleavages
→ It encourages discussions and exchange
→ People anywhere may have reasons to see
4. Universal
it as valuable
Lecture 2: What is Democracy?
Substantive/ maximalist conceptions of democracy classify political regimes in regard to the outcomes that they produce
and not just the institutions they have.
However, if the conception has too many attributes, it has no empirical referents.
A minimalist/ procedural view of democracy classifies political regimes in regard to their institutions and procedures.
However, too few attributes can lead to making all cases become instances.
Dahl’s contribution: defining electoral democracy and coining the term polyarchy:
Dimension Explanation
→ The extent to which citizens are free to organize themselves into
1. Contestation competing blocs in order to press for the policies and outcomes they
desire
→ Entalis freedom to form political parties, freedom of speech, etc.
DAT Endterm Notes 2
, Dimension Explanation
→ Ex ante uncertainty- the outcome of the election is unknown before
it happens;
→ Ex-post reversibility- the winner of the election actually takes office;
→ Repeatability- elections that meet the first two criteria must occur at
regular and known intervals
2. Inclusion → Who gets to participate in the democratic process
→ Entalis citizenship, suffrage
→ There is little variation between countries when it comes to this
dimension.
The idea of liberal democracy adds to the conception of electoral democracy the necessity of a limited government.
Evaluating Measures of Democracy
Democracy and Dictatorships (DD) Polity IV Freedom House
→ Reliance on subjective → Reliance on subjective
→ Highly reliable because it is
Reliability judgements of the individuals judgements of the individuals
based on observables.
coding each country. coding each country.
Replicability → Detailed and clear coding rules → Detailed and clear coding rules → Does not provide coding rules
DAT Endterm Notes 3
, Parekh’s Critique:
Today’s forms of democracy impose a liberal ideology that stresses individualism. The “liberal” is too strong.
Liberal democracy- democracy defined and structured within the limits set by liberalism.
In the liberal state, human beings are expected to abstract away from their identities and to meet only as citizens.
Arguments to justify not granting universal franchise:
1. The masses, mostly consisting of the poor, were hostile to the rich and to the institution of private property in general.
2. The masses sought equality in all spheres of life and their rise to power was bound to lead to cultural homogeneity,
intolerance of diversity, and the tyranny of public opinion.
3. The masses were hostile to the spirit of critical inquiry, which liberals cherished.
4. The masses lack rationality and capacity for reflection.
How liberals contained the democratic tide:
They developed parliamentary majorities and elitist theories of representation and political parties.
They turned education into a medium to indoctrinate liberalism.
They extended the fruits of capitalism and the gains of colonialism to the masses in order to give them a stake in the
capitalist economy.
How a polity combines liberalism and democracy or how liberal and democratic it chooses to be depends on its
history, traditions, values, problems and needs.
Lecture 3: What is an Autocracy?
DAT Endterm Notes 4
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