Democracy and Development: Political Institutions and Well-Being in the World, 1950–1990

Cambridge Studies in the Theory of Democracy

by Adam Przeworski, Michael E. Alvarez, José Antonio Cheibub

Is economic development conducive to political democracy? Does democracy foster or hinder material welfare? These two questions are examined by looking at the experiences of 135 countries between 1950 and 1990. Descriptive information, statistical analyses, and historical narratives are interwoven to gain an understanding of the dynamic of political regimes and their impact on economic development. The often surprising findings dispel any notion of a tradeoff between democracy and development. Economic development does not generate democracies, but democracies are much more likely to survive in wealthy societies.

Genres: Political Science, Politics, History, Economics, Nonfiction, Theory

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Adam Przeworski is the Carroll and Milton Professor of Politics and (by courtesy) Economics at New York University. Previously he taught at the University of Chicago, where he was the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor, and held visiting appointments in India, Chile, France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1991, he is the recipient of the 1985 Socialist Review Book Award, the 1998 Gregory M. Luebbert Article Award, the 2001 Woodrow Wilson Prize, the 2010 Lawrence Longley Award, the 2010 Johan Skytte Prize, the 2018 Sakip Sabanci Award, and the 2018 Juan Linz Prize.. He recently published Why Bother with Elections? (London: Polity Press 2018).

Reviews

[Emily]

Demokratie ist stabil, wenn ein Land reich ist. Und sie ist stabiler, wenn die Schere zwischen Arm und Reich klein ist. Reiche Länder sind zu einem hohen Anteil Demokratien. Aber Modernisierungstheorien haben unrecht: Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung ist nicht der Grund dafür, dass ein Land überhaupt erstmal demokratisch wird. Demokratien entwickeln sich anders als Diktaturen (bis auf ganz arme): Sie setzen weniger Arbeiter ein als Diktaturen, haben aber eine höhere Produktivität und können die eingesetzte Arbeitskraft besser ausnutzen; sie zahlen höhere Löhne; ein höherer Anteil der Produktion fliesst letztendlich an die Produzierenden zurück. Diktaturen dagegen entwickeln sich, indem sie viel Arbeitskraft einsetzen und diese schlecht bezahlen. Besonders Frauen geht es in Demokratien bei gleichem Wohlstand besser als in Diktaturen: Sie leben länger, bekommen weniger Kinder, sind besser ausgebildet und erhalten höhere Löhne.

[Alejandra López]

Despite its shortcomings (lack of causal mechanisms, treating democracy as a dichotomous variable, defining democracy as simply contestation), this book is fundamental to how we understand democracy and democratization today since it questioned modernization theory.

[Renee]

Had to put this on my booklist. It has been my bible as I write my thesis. Recommended for all Poli Sci enthusiasts.

[Mel]

Essential reading for anyone intrigued by democracy, development theory, and the interplay of forces that shape political systems and institutions.