The Sources of Democratic Consolidation

Gerard Alexander

Published by Cornell University Press 2002

The Sources of Democratic Consolidation

Gerard Alexander

https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501720482

Overview
Contents

About this book

Why did precarious and collapsed democracies in Europe develop into highly stable democracies? Gerard Alexander offers a rational choice theory of democratic consolidation in a survey of the breakdowns of and transitions to democratic institutions. Through an analysis of developments in Spain, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, Alexander explores how key political sectors established the long-term commitment to democracy that distinguishes consolidated democracies. Alexander makes a highly accessible rationalist argument about the conditions under which such commitments emerge, arguing that powerful sectors abandon options for overthrowing democratic rules only when they predict low risks in democracy. The author's argument parallels established claims about the predictability essential to the development of modern capitalism. The Sources of Democratic Consolidation outlines Alexander's claim that a political precondition, rather than an economic or social precondition, exists for consolidated democracies. Drawing on interviews and archival research, the author links his argument to evidence from the five largest countries in Western Europe from the 1870s to the 1980s and also discusses the implications for the prospects for democratic consolidation in other regions. Political pacts, power-sharing, and institutional designs, he says, may help stabilize uncertain democracies, but they cannot create consolidation.

Author information

Alexander Gerard :

Gerard Alexander is Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia.

Reviews

Margaret Levi, Bacharach Professor of International Studies, University of Washington:

"Alexander takes on one of the important issues in the contemporary world: the transformation of failed regimes into stable democracies. His analytical sophistication is a model of social science. His approach provides answers to ongoing puzzles about the political and economic success of so many countries in Europe, and it offers guidance to understanding development worldwide."

Gianfranco Pasquino, University of Bologna:

"Alexander has written a remarkable book that challenges some received wisdoms. Theoretically innovative, founded on solid research and much incontrovertible evidence, The Sources of Democratic Consolidation is a real and significant contribution to the existing literature. Indeed, it does so by going well beyond most of this literature."

Eddie Hyland, Trinity College Dublin:

"This is an important work that should be of interest to everyone working in the field of democratic transition and consolidation."

Christopher Kam, University of South Carolina:

"This book... should command a wide audience. Students of democratization and Western European politics will find it a useful addition to their libraries. Indeed, it would also be a useful book to assign in graduate seminars on research design and comparative politics. The Sources of Democratic Consolidation nicely illustrates the strengths and limitations of the rational choice approach to comparative politics."

"Despite the author's intention, he has produced a book of social science that turns into a fine rehabilitation of history."

J. M. Scolnick, Jr.:

"Alexander offers an excellent contribution to the literature examining how and why new democracies become consolidated. In essence, the author argues persuasively the genuine consolidation occurs only when powerful segments of society have become convinced that their opponents will predictably refrain from using democratic rules to seriously harm their core assets or values."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Abbreviations Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
PART I THEORY
1. Rational Regime Preferences in Europe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2. Democracy with Whom? Authoritarianism under Whom? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
3. Predictability and Democratic Consolidation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	56
PART II CASES
Introduction to Part II: Case Selection and Measuring Independent and Dependent Variables Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	93
4. The Right and the Breakdown of Spanish Democracy, 1931-1936 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
5. Democratic Transition and Consolidation in Spain, 1976-1986 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	138
6. Political Risks and Regime Outcomes in Europe before 1940 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	182
7. Political Risks and Regime Outcomes in Europe after 1945 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	219
8. Consolidation into the Future and outside Europe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
Appendix: Interviews on the Spanish Right's Beliefs in the 1970s and 1980s Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	285

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 304
Illustrations
- Other: 12 tables, 5 line drawings
Keywords: West European History; Political Science & Political History

eBook

Published: October 18, 2018
ISBN: 9781501720482