Chapters 5 & 6 + the Lührmann & Lindberg (2019) L2 Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are the core components of democracy?
Free and fair elections, civil liberties, rule of law, political participation, and institutional checks and balances.
What is Robert Dahl’s concept of ‘polyarchy’?
A polyarchy is a democracy that exists in practice, even if it’s not perfect.
Dahl didn’t believe any country had a perfect democracy, but some come close by letting people:
Choose leaders freely
Speak openly
Compete in elections
That’s polyarchy
A regime with high levels of contestation and participation—what Dahl considers the real-world form of democracy.
What’s the difference between procedural and substantive democracy?
Procedural democracy focuses on electoral mechanisms; substantive democracy includes outcomes like equality, justice, and inclusion.
What is democratic consolidation?
The process by which democracy becomes stable and deeply rooted, unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.
What factors support democratic consolidation?
Strong institutions, civil society, economic development, rule of law, and political culture.
What defines an authoritarian regime?
Power is concentrated in one or a few hands, opposition is limited, and civil liberties are restricted.
What are the main types of authoritarian regimes?
Military, single-party, personalist, and monarchic regimes.
How do authoritarian regimes maintain control?
Repression, co-optation, propaganda, patronage, and performance legitimacy.
Why do some authoritarian regimes hold elections?
To create legitimacy, manage elite conflict, and monitor support.
What is competitive authoritarianism?
A hybrid regime with democratic institutions that are widely abused in favor of incumbents (e.g., Turkey, Russia).
What are common traits of personalist regimes?
Power centralized in a leader, weak institutions, high cult of personality, and succession uncertainty.
How do military regimes differ from civilian authoritarian regimes?
Military regimes often come to power via coups and have structured, hierarchical leadership. They may be more likely to negotiate exits.
What is the ‘third wave of autocratization’?
A global trend since 2000 where democracies erode gradually from within, often under legal and electoral pretenses.
What’s new about this wave of autocratization?
It’s slow, legalistic, and occurs inside democracies rather than through coups or revolutions.
How do autocratizing governments erode democracy?
Step-by-step: attacking media, weakening courts, suppressing opposition, and rigging electoral rules.
What is ‘autocratization by stealth’?
Gradual erosion of democratic norms using legal changes, often appearing legitimate or procedural.
What role do elections play in modern autocratization?
Elections are still held but are manipulated through unfair advantages, voter suppression, and media control.
How is the V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index used in this research?
It quantifies levels of democracy (0–1 scale) and tracks significant declines (≥0.1) as indicators of autocratization.
What regions have seen the most autocratization recently?
Central and Eastern Europe, South Asia, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.
What are the consequences of democratic erosion for citizens?
Decline in civil liberties, reduced government accountability, and increased polarization or unrest.
