Lijphart’s Patterns of Democracy (Chapter 16) & Armingeon’s critique on negotiation democracies L4 Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is the key argument of Lijphart in Chapter 16?
Consensus democracies perform better on measures of democratic quality and exhibit ‘kinder, gentler’ qualities.
How does consensus democracy compare to majoritarian democracy in representation?
Consensus democracy is better at representing minority groups and interests inclusively.
What are some ‘kinder, gentler’ qualities of consensus democracies?
More welfare spending, better environmental protection, less incarceration, less use of the death penalty, more foreign aid.
What does Lijphart mean by the ‘quality of democracy’?
Measured by voice and accountability, civil liberties, political participation, equality, and democratic satisfaction.
What is the impact of consensus democracy on women’s political representation?
It significantly increases women’s representation in parliaments and cabinets.
How is voter turnout affected by consensus democracy?
Turnout tends to be higher, though effects are modest unless controls like compulsory voting and election frequency are applied.
How does consensus democracy affect economic inequality?
It tends to reduce inequality, shown by better Gini index scores and income distribution ratios.
What are the effects of consensus democracy on satisfaction with democracy?
Positive correlation—citizens in consensus democracies report higher satisfaction.
What is the effect of consensus democracy on social welfare spending?
Higher net public and publicly mandated social expenditure as % of GDP.
What is Lijphart’s finding on consensus democracy and environmental performance?
Consensus democracies score significantly higher on the Environmental Performance Index.
What does the incarceration rate suggest about consensus democracies?
They incarcerate fewer people and are less punitive.
How do consensus democracies differ in terms of death penalty use?
They are less likely to retain or use the death penalty.
What does the data show about foreign aid in consensus democracies?
They give more aid as a % of GDP and have a higher aid-to-defense spending ratio.
Why might consensus democracies be more gender-equal?
They institutionalize inclusion, support quotas, and promote feminist democratic ideals.
How does Lijphart explain consensus democracies as ‘feminine’?
Lijphart uses “feminine” to describe consensus democracies because they emphasize consultation, cooperation, and inclusiveness. This contrasts with “masculine” majoritarian democracies, which prioritize competition, confrontation, and clear winners.
For example:
Consensus democracy (e.g., Sweden, the Netherlands):
Multiple parties share power, compromise is routine, and policies are shaped by discussion with unions, employers, and civil society.
→ “Feminine” in the sense of nurturing dialogue and collective decision-making.
Majoritarian democracy (e.g., UK, US):
One party governs alone, debate is confrontational (especially in parliaments), and winners dominate losers.
→ “Masculine” in the sense of competitive, aggressive politics.
Masculine” in the sense of competitive, aggressive politics.
What are the three forms of negotiation democracy identified by Armingeon?
Consociational democracy, corporatism, and systems of veto players.
How does consociational democracy contribute to stability?
By integrating large minorities through elite cooperation in segmented societies.
What is corporatism in Armingeon’s framework?
A system where governments, unions, and employers cooperate on economic and social policy.
What is a regime of veto players?
A system with many institutional actors that can block policy, promoting checks and balances.
How does corporatism affect economic outcomes?
It supports employment, price stability, and welfare expansion by fostering cooperation.
What are the downsides of veto player systems?
They can cause policy deadlock and limit redistributive reforms.
How does Armingeon critique Lijphart’s optimism about consensus democracy?
He argues it is not necessarily ‘kinder and gentler,’ but it is better for integrating minorities.
Armingeon agrees that consensus (negotiation) democracies are better at including minorities in decision-making, but he challenges Lijphart’s claim that they always produce better social outcomes. While they promote minority inclusion through power-sharing, they don’t always lead to more welfare spending or equality, which depends on other political and economic factors.
💡 Example:
In Switzerland (a consociational democracy), different linguistic and religious groups share power, which supports long-term stability.
But the country doesn’t necessarily outperform in welfare state generosity compared to Scandinavian majoritarian systems.
Why might corporatist systems outperform pluralist ones?
Due to better coordination among economic actors and fewer labor conflicts.
