Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective
(Political Science 234/Spring 2005)
CRN 65037
Professor McClintock
Office: Old Main 413B
Phone: (202) 994-6589
mcclin@gwu.edu
Office Hours:
Tues. 3:50-4:50
Wed. 3:50-4:50
And by appointment
By one estimate, when the "third wave" of democracy began in 1974, there were only 39
electoral democracies in the world; but, by 1996, there were 117 and by 2004 119. Freedom
House classified 77 countries as "free" or "partly free" in 1973-74, but 146 in 2004. This
"third wave" was a happy surprise for scholars, who had tended to be pessimistic about
democratization in countries that were poor, ethnically divided, and not Protestant.
After initial consideration of the definition and measurement of democracy, we turn our
attention to explanations for the "third wave." Why do some new democracies appear to be
consolidating, while others are muddling through in a "gray zone" between democracy and
authoritarianism or have even relapsed? Are remaining authoritarian regimes likely to
democratize soon? We consider the prevailing explanations for these questions from the
realms of political culture, civil society, modes of transition, political economy, political
institutions, and the international context.
A related concern of the course is democracy promotion. What does our analysis of
democratic trends imply for strategies of democracy promotion?
Our analysis will draw considerably on seven country cases: China, Russia, South Africa,
Iraq, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. Students are expected to gain a basic knowledge of political
trends in these countries.
Course requirements
1) Active, informed participation in class discussion (20% of the grade). By Tuesday at
noon, students are to submit, via “Discussions” on Blackboard, two questions about the
week's reading for 6 class sessions.
2) Participation in one of the debates, with presentation of a 5-page paper (15% of the
grade). One or two students will build an argument; the professor and the other students will
raise opposing points and criticism. By noon the Monday before the debate, students are to
submit, via Blackboard, a one or two sentence summary of the argument. The argument will
be presented to the class for 10 minutes, and rebuttal will proceed for 10 minutes.
Students will be graded on the quality of both the paper and the presentation (including
adherence to time constraints).
3) Research paper, 10-15 pages in length (30% of the grade). This paper should test one or
more of the prevailing theories of democratization, or an aspect of these theories, in a
country case or cases chosen for this purpose. A 100-200 word statement of the topic, with
a preliminary bibliography, must be submitted via e-mail or hard copy to the professor by
Feb. 22. Paper is due April 12; a summary of the paper is to be presented in class on April
12.
4) A take-home final exam, 12-15 pages in length (35% of the grade). Students will choose
two or three essay questions from a set of four to ten. Deadline: Approx. two weeks after
the last class.
Readings:
The following books, available at the Marvin Center Bookstore, are strongly recommended
for purchase:
Almond, Gabriel, and Verba, Sidney, The Civic Culture. JA 74 .A4 1989
Bermeo, Nancy, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times.
Carothers, Thomas, Critical Mission: Essays in Democracy Promotion.
Dickson, Bruce J., Red Capitalists in China.
Huntington, Samuel P., The Third Wave -Democratization in the Late 20th Century JC 421
.H86 1991
Przeworski, Adam, et. al. Democracy and Development.
Putnam, Robert D., Making Democracy Work JN 5477.R35 P866 1993
Stiglitz, Joseph E., Globalization and Its Discontents. HF 1418.5S75 2003
Additional required readings, particularly those from Comparative Political Studies (CPS),
are available on Blackboard. Most readings from the scholarly journals World Politics (WP),
Comparative Politics (CP) and area-studies journals are available on JSTOR. Readings from
the Journal of Democracy are available at http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jod. Foreign Policy
(FP), Foreign Affairs (FA), and are available though the "e-journal title finder" feature on the
ALADIN home page at Gelman Library.
Jan. 18 INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
Carothers, Ch. 16.
Halperin, M., et. al., The Democracy Advantage, pp. 25-64 or,
Siegle, J.T., et. al., “Why Democracies Excel,” FA (Oct. 2004), pp. 5-71.
Jan. 25 A) DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENT
(Students who took the fall semester democracy course will be asked their insights about the
relationship between past and current conceptualizations.)
Huntington, Ch. 1.
Przeworski, Ch. 1.
Carothers, Ch. 1.
Munck, G., and Verkuilen, J., "Conceptualizing and Measuring Democracy: Evaluating
Alternative Indices," CPS (Feb. 2002), pp. 5-34.
Diamond., L., Schedler, A., Levitsky and Way, van de Walle, N., "Elections without
Democracy," JD (April 2002), pp. 21-80.
Diamond, L., and Morlino, L., "The Quality of Democracy: An Overview," JD (Oct. 2004),
pp. 20-31.
Freedom House's rating scheme and 2004-05 ratings, at www.freedomhouse.org
Recommended:
Schmitter, Philippe C. and Terry Lynn Karl, "What Democracy Is…And is Not," JD
(Summer 1991), pp. 75-88.
Dahl, Robert A., Polyarchy.
B) INTRODUCTORY ASSESSMENT OF THEORIES OF COMPARATIVE
EMOCRATIZATION
Munck, G., “The Regime Question: Theory Building in Democratic Studies,” WP (Oct.
2001), pp. 119-144.
Bunce, Valerie, “Comparative Democratization: Big and Bounded Generalizations,” CPS
(August-Sept. 2000), pp. 703-734.
Recommended:
Shin, D.C., "On the Third Wave of Democratization,"
WP (Oct. 1994), pp. 135-170. (A review article)
Feb. 1 MODES OF TRANSITION
DEBATE: TO PACT OR NOT TO PACT? (Does a political pact enhance prospects for
democratization?)
Huntington, Chs. 3, 4, and 5. (summary pp. 270-279)
Carothers, Chs. 14 and 15.
Linz, Juan J. and Stepan, Alfred, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation, pp.
55-83.
Karl, T.L. "Dilemmas of Democratization in Latin America." CP (Oct. 90), pp. 1-21.
McFaul, M., “The Fourth Wave of Democracy and Dictatorship,” WP (Jan. 2002), pp. 212244.
Bunce, V., “Rethinking Recent Democratization,” WP (Jan. 2003), pp. 167-192.
Bermeo, N., “Rethinking Regime Change,” CP (April 1990), pp. 359-377 (review of
O’Donnell and Schmitter).
Recommended:
O’Donnell, G., and Schmitter, P.C., Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative
Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies. (See also review by Daniel Levine, WP.
Apr.1988 377-394).
Feb. 8 MODERNIZATION AND CLASS STRUCTURE
DEBATE: IS MODERNIZATION THEORY VALID?
(Focus on China)
Dickson, entire.
Przeworski et. al., Ch. 2.
Huntington, pp. 59-72 and 311-316.
Boix, Carlos and Susan C. Stokes, "Endogenous Democratization," WP (July 2003), pp. 517539.
Rueschemeyer,Dietrich, E. Huber Stephens, and J.D.Stephens, Capitalist Development and
Democracy, pp. 269-302.
Bellin, E., Stalled Democracy, pp. 1-10.
“China’s Changing of the Guard,” JD (Jan. 2003), pp. 5-42.
Recommended:
Flanagan, S.C. and Lee, A., “Value Change and Democratic Reform in Japan and Korea,”
CPS (June 2000), pp. 626-659.
Lipset, Seymour Martin, Political Man, Ch. 2.
Moore, Barrington, Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy.
Skocpol, T., "A Critical Review of Barrington Moore's Social Origins of Dictatorship and
Democracy," Politics and Society (1973), No. 1, pp. 1-34.
Feb. 15 THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
(Focus on international democracy promotion and the Russian experience)
Huntington, pp. 85-106 and 281-290.
Carothers, Chs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, and 13.
Wolchik, S., "Regional Governance and East Central Europe: The EU, NATO, and the
Consolidation of Democracy," Japanese Journal of Political Science (Nov. 2003), pp. 273292, available at JSTOR.
"Russian Democracy in Eclipse," JD (July 2004), pp. 20-77.
Recommended:
McFaul, M. and Goldgeier, J., Power and Purpose: U.S. Policy Toward Russia After the Cold
War.
Schleifer, A. and Treisman, D., "A Normal Country," FA (Mar.-April 2004), pp. 20-34.
Feb. 22 FREE-MARKET REFORM AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
DEBATE: WERE FREE-MARKET REFORMS IMPLEMENTED TOO QUICKLY
AND RASHLY, WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FOR COUNTRY-SPECIFIC
PROBLEMS, IN THE 1990s?
Stiglitz, pp. 22-36, Chs. 4 & 5, 178-179, 206-213, and 224-244.
Przeworski et. al. pp. 106-117, and Chs. 3 and 4.
Kapur, D., and Naím, M., “The IMF and Democratic Governance,” JD (Jan. 2005), pp. 89102.
Glinski, D. and Reddaway, P., “The Ravages of ‘Market Bolshevism,’” JD (April 1999), pp.
19-34.
Mahon, James E., Jr. and Javier Corrales, "Pegged for Failure? Argentina's Crisis," Current
History (Feb. 2002), pp. 72-75.
Mahon, James E., Jr., "Good-Bye to the Washington Consensus?" Current History (Feb.
2003), pp. 58-64.
Recommended:
Haggard and Kaufman, The Political Economy of Democratic Transitions (JC 423 .H29
1995)
Eichengreen, B., "The Globalization Wars," FA (July/August 2002), pp. 157-164.
Sachs, J., “How to Run the IMF,” FP (July/Aug. 2004), pp. 60-64.
Mar. 1 POLITICAL CULTURE
DEBATE: IS THE ISLAMIC RELIGION INHOSPITABLE TO DEMOCRACY?
Almond, G. and Verba, S., Ch. 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 10.
Huntington, pp. 72-84, 258-270, 298-311.
McClintock, C. Peasant Cooperatives and Political Change in Peru, Ch. 4. (HD 1491 .P4
M33)
"The Man in the Baghdad Café," The Economist (Nov. 9, 1996).
Pateman, C., "Political Culture, Political Structure, and Political Change," British Journal of
Political Science (July 1971), pp. 291-305.
Huntington, S.P, "The Clash of Civilizations," FA (Vol. 72, No. 3), 1993, pp. 22-47.
"How People View Democracy," JD (Jan. 2001), pp. 93-145 and Rose, R., "How Muslims
View Democracy," JD (Oct. 2002), 102-111.
"Debating Muslim Exceptionalism," JD (Oct. 2004), pp. 126-146.
Visit the New Democracies Barometer Survey site, www.cspp.strath.ac.uk +/or
latinobarometer.org.
Recommended:
Freitag, M., “The Development of Generalized Trust in Japan and Switzerland,” CPS (Oct.
2003), pp. 936-966.
Elkins, David J. and Simeon, Richard E.B., "A Cause in Search of Its Effect, or What Does
Political Culture Explain?" CP (Jan. 1979), pp. 127-145.
Mar. 8 NATIONALISM, ETHNICITY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
A) INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION AND NATIONALISM
Benedict, A., Imagined Communities, Ch. 1.
Csergo, Z. and Goldgeier, J., “Nationalist Strategies and European Integration,” Perspectives
on Politics (March 2004), pp. 21-37.
Beissinger, M., “How Nationalisms Spread: Eastern Europe Adrift the Tides and Cycles of
Nationalist Contention,” Social Research (Spring 1996).
Laitin, D., “The Cultural Identities of a European State,” Politics and Society (September
1997).
B) ETHNICITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN
DEBATE: WOULD CONSOCIATIONALISM ENHANCE DEMOCRATIC
PROSPECTS IN MEXICO, SOUTH AFRICA, OR IRAQ?
Benomar, J. and Lijphart, A., “Constitutions for Divided Societies,” JD (April 2004), pp. 81109.
Maphai, V.T. “A Season for Power-Sharing,” JD (Jan. 1996), pp. 67- 81.
Lijphart, A., Democracies, Chs. 1 and 2.
Gurr, T.R., Minorities at Risk, Ch. 5.
Hashim, A.S., Iraq: From Insurgency to Civil War?” CH(Jan 2005), pp. 10-18.
Recommended:
Stepan, A,"Federalism and Democracy," JD (Oct. 1999), pp. 19-34.
Horowitz, Donald, Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Chs. 1 and 7. GN496.H67 1985
Higgins, P., Understanding the Chiapas Rebellion, pp. 153-190.
Mar. 15 NO CLASS/SPRING BREAK
Mar. 22 CIVIL SOCIETY AND ITS POLITICAL CONTEXT
(emphasis on Italy, Peru, and Chile)
DEBATE: IS CIVIL SOCIETY A HERO OR A VILLAIN?
Putnam, esp. Ch. 1, pp. 60-62, Ch. 3, 4, and 5.
Carothers, Chs. 8 and 9.
Bermeo, pp. 27-29, and Chs. 1, 5, and 7.
Keck, M. and Sikkink, K., Activists Beyond Borders, Ch. 1.
Putnam, R.D., "Bowling Alone," JD (Jan. 1995), pp.65-78.
Foley, M.W. and Edwards, B., “The Paradox of Civil Society,” JD (July 1996), pp. 38-52.
Tarrow, S., "Making Social Science Work across Space and Time," APSR (June 1996), pp.
389-397.
Levi, M., "Social and Unsocial capital," Politics and Society (March 1996), pp. 45-56.
Recommended:
Hagopian, F.. "What Makes Democracies Collapse?" JD (July 2004), pp. 166-169 (review of
Bermeo)
Krishna, A., “Enhancing Political Participation in Democracies: What is the Role of Social
Capital?” CPS (May 2002), 437-60.
Armony, A., The Dubious Link: Civic Engagement and Democracy.
Additional critical analyses of Putnam’s work are available in The American Prospect (MarApr.1996), the American Behavioral Scientist (Mar/Apr. 1997), and Politics and Society
(March 1996), by Sabetti, F. www.worldbank.org/poverty/scapital/index.htm
Mar. 29 CONSTITUTIONAL DESIGN AND POLITICAL PARTIES
DEBATE: IS PARLIAMENTARIANISM SUPERIOR TO PRESIDENTIALISM?
Stepan, A., and Skach, C., "Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation:
Parliamentarianism versus Presidentialism," WP (Oct. 1993), pp. 1-22.
Valenzuela, A., "Latin American Presidencies Interrupted," JD (Oct. 2004), pp. 5-19.
Linz, Juan, "The Perils of Presidentialism,” JD (Winter 199O), pp. 50-69.
Linz, Juan, "The Virtues of Parliamentarianism," JD (Fall 1990), pp. 84-91.
Cheibub, J.A., “Minority Governments, Deadlock Situations, and the Survival of Presidential
Democracies,” CPS (April 2002), pp. 284-313.
Huntington, S.P, Political Order in Changing Societies, 397-432.
Mainwaring, S., "Party Systems in the Third Wave," JD (July 1998), pp. 67-81.
McFaul, M., “Explaining Party Formation and Nonformation in Russia,” CPS (Dec. 2001),
pp. 1159-1187.
Recommended:
Sartori, Giovanni, Parties and Party Systems, Ch. 9. JF2051.S26
Cox, Gary, Making Votes Count JF1001.C69 1997
Carey, John M., "Parchment, Equilibria, and Institutions," CPS (2000), Nos. 6-7, pp. 735761.
Tsebelis, G., "Decision-Making in Political Systems: Veto Players in Presidentialism,
Parliamentarism, Multicameralism, and Multipartyism," BJPS, July 1995, pp. 289-325.
Bielasiak, J. “The Institutionalization of Electoral and Party Systems in Post-Communist
States,” CP (January 2002), pp. 189-210.
Berman, S., “Life of the Party” (review article) CP (Oct. 1997), pp. 101-122.
April 5 THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRATIC QUALITY
Carothers, Chs. 10 and 11.
Ungar, Mark, Elusive Reform and the Rule of Law in Latin America, pp. 17-62.
O'Donnell, G., "Why the Rule of Law Matters," JD (Oct. 2004), pp. 32-46.
Geddes, B. and Artur Ribeiro Neto, "Institutional Sources of Corruption in Brazil," in Keith
S. Rosenn and Richard Downes, Corruption and Political Reform in Brazil, Ch. 2.
Recommended:
“The Quality of Democracy,” JD (Oct. 2004), pp. 46-110.
Brown, N., Rule of Law in the Arab World.
Payne, J. Mark, et. al., Democracies in Development: Politics and Reform in Latin America,
Ch. 9. JL960.D45 2002
April 12 PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH PAPERS
April 19 STRATEGIES OF DEMOCRACY PROMOTION
(Focus on South Africa)
Carothers, Sections 5 and 6.
Evans, E., "A Decade of Democracy in South Africa: Lessons for Other Emerging
Democracies," forthcoming.
Alence, R., "S. Africa after Apartheid," JD (July 2004), pp. 78-92.
Schwartzman, K.C., “Can International Boycotts Transform Political Systems?” Latin
American Poltics and Society (Summer 2001), pp.115-146.
Hawkins, D., “Democratization Theory and Nontransitions: Insights from Cuba,” CP (July
2001), pp. 441-461.
Price, R., "Transnational Civil Society and Advocacy In World Politics," WP (July 2003), pp.
579-606.
Visit U.S. AID at www.usaid.gov & NED at www.ned.org.
April 26 CONCLUSION