Podcast
Questions and Answers
What type of support does a monarchy primarily rely on?
What type of support does a monarchy primarily rely on?
- Military force
- Popular vote
- Family and kin networks (correct)
- Economic alliances
Which feature is NOT considered in the institutionalization of non-democracies?
Which feature is NOT considered in the institutionalization of non-democracies?
- Occurrence of elections
- Existence of political parties
- Presence of a legislature
- Public opinion polls (correct)
In the classification of regimes, which of the following indicates a military dictatorship?
In the classification of regimes, which of the following indicates a military dictatorship?
- A leader appointed through family lineage
- A head of government from current or former armed forces (correct)
- A leader elected by public referendum
- A head of government who is a civilian
What is a common characteristic of dictatorships mentioned?
What is a common characteristic of dictatorships mentioned?
Which group poses the main threat to dictators as indicated in the content?
Which group poses the main threat to dictators as indicated in the content?
What characterizes a sectarian political landscape?
What characterizes a sectarian political landscape?
In which scenario is a restricted political environment most likely to be observed?
In which scenario is a restricted political environment most likely to be observed?
What is a defining feature of regulated political systems?
What is a defining feature of regulated political systems?
What is meant by latent factionalism in political contexts?
What is meant by latent factionalism in political contexts?
Which statement best describes multiple identity political groups?
Which statement best describes multiple identity political groups?
What does the two-dimensional characterization of democracy encompass?
What does the two-dimensional characterization of democracy encompass?
According to Przeworski et al., what is a defining characteristic of a democracy?
According to Przeworski et al., what is a defining characteristic of a democracy?
Which of the following statements is true about Bashar Assad's 2014 vote share?
Which of the following statements is true about Bashar Assad's 2014 vote share?
What is meant by 'ex-ante uncertainty' in electoral processes?
What is meant by 'ex-ante uncertainty' in electoral processes?
Which characteristic ensures that if the opposition wins an election, it can assume power?
Which characteristic ensures that if the opposition wins an election, it can assume power?
Which dimension does 'inclusion' refer to in Dahl’s framework of democracy?
Which dimension does 'inclusion' refer to in Dahl’s framework of democracy?
What is a major flaw in considering Syria a democracy based on the 2014 elections?
What is a major flaw in considering Syria a democracy based on the 2014 elections?
What is a primary strategy used by dictatorial regimes to maintain control?
What is a primary strategy used by dictatorial regimes to maintain control?
What does 'replicability' refer to in the context of democratic elections?
What does 'replicability' refer to in the context of democratic elections?
In bureaucratized or legalistic systems, which statement is true?
In bureaucratized or legalistic systems, which statement is true?
Which of the following does NOT characterize a democracy according to Przeworski et al.?
Which of the following does NOT characterize a democracy according to Przeworski et al.?
What does the DD measure focus on when classifying regimes?
What does the DD measure focus on when classifying regimes?
What is the role of contestation in a democratic framework?
What is the role of contestation in a democratic framework?
Which type of regimes may render institutions and rules less significant?
Which type of regimes may render institutions and rules less significant?
What is a significant limitation in measuring democracy mentioned in the content?
What is a significant limitation in measuring democracy mentioned in the content?
What is typically required for a country to be classified as a democracy using the DD measure?
What is typically required for a country to be classified as a democracy using the DD measure?
What does the operational version of the DD measure aim to classify?
What does the operational version of the DD measure aim to classify?
Which of the following best describes a potential issue with formal institutions in dictatorial regimes?
Which of the following best describes a potential issue with formal institutions in dictatorial regimes?
Why is the value of transparency highlighted in the context of measuring democracy?
Why is the value of transparency highlighted in the context of measuring democracy?
What does the process of alternation in power signify in the context of the DD measure?
What does the process of alternation in power signify in the context of the DD measure?
What characterizes the 'Unregulated' category in the polity coding scale?
What characterizes the 'Unregulated' category in the polity coding scale?
In the 'Multiple Identity' category, what is a common characteristic of political groups?
In the 'Multiple Identity' category, what is a common characteristic of political groups?
What distinguishes the 'Sectarian' category in polity coding?
What distinguishes the 'Sectarian' category in polity coding?
What is a consequence of 'latent factionalism' as described in the polity coding?
What is a consequence of 'latent factionalism' as described in the polity coding?
Which of the following best describes political activity in the 'Multiple Identity' category?
Which of the following best describes political activity in the 'Multiple Identity' category?
What type of political dynamics is evident in the 'Sectarian' category?
What type of political dynamics is evident in the 'Sectarian' category?
What is a defining feature of political participation described as 'Unregulated'?
What is a defining feature of political participation described as 'Unregulated'?
How is the political landscape described in the 'Sectarian' category characterized?
How is the political landscape described in the 'Sectarian' category characterized?
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Study Notes
Democracy and Governance
- Democracies are characterized by inclusion, the number of people involved in political choices, and contestation, how competitive the political system is.
- Dahl's framework for classifying regimes uses a two-dimensional model with inclusion on the vertical axis and contestation on the horizontal axis.
- Przeworski et al.'s definition of democracy focuses on contestation as the core element.
- A democracy is a system where ruling parties can win or lose elections.
- Bashar Assad's 88.7% vote share in 2014 is not an indicator of democracy, as elections in Syria do not meet the criteria of a democratic system.
- Przeworski et al.'s criteria for democracy include:
- Ex-ante uncertainty: The winner is not known beforehand.
- Ex-post irreversibility: If the opposition wins, they can take office.
- Replicability: The winner does not discard the rules of the game.
- Regimes outside of democracy are classified into monarchies, military dictatorships, and civilian dictatorships.
- Monarchies are based on family and kin networks.
- Military dictatorships are backed by armed forces.
- Civilian dictatorships are led by those who are neither monarchs nor military members.
- Institutions in dictatorships can play a crucial role, even in highly personalistic regimes.
- Examples include bureaucratized or legalistic systems where rules and formal institutions are used to maintain power.
- Measuring democracy is complex and involves various methods and definitions.
- Some measurements focus on contestation while others incorporate inclusion as a key factor.
- The DD measure (PACL dataset) is an operational definition of democracy.
- It relies on a checklist of criteria:
- Chief executive elected
- Legislature elected
- More than one party
- Alternation in power has taken place
- Failing even one of these criteria classifies a regime as a dictatorship.
- It relies on a checklist of criteria:
- Polity coding uses a five-category scale for PARREG (Regulation of Participation):
- Unregulated: Fluid participation with no enduring political organizations.
- Multiple Identity: Enduring political groups compete but lack common interests.
- Sectarian: Incompatible interests and factionalism within political groups.
- Restricted: Some organized political participation, but significant groups or issues excluded.
- Regulated: Regular political competition with limited use of coercion.
Dictatorships: Power and Control
- Dictators rely on support coalitions and are not all-powerful.
- The primary threat to dictator rule comes from within their own coalition.
- Dictators employ strategies to maintain power:
- Coopting elites, party members, and social groups
- Coopting potential opposition by dividing and conquering
- Gathering information about popularity and local officials
- Creating an appearance of democracy
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