The book is an influential analysis of the bases of democracy across the world. One of the important sections is Chapter 2: "Economic Development and Democracy." Larry Diamond and Gary Marks argue that "Lipset's assertion of a direct relationship between economic development and democracy has been subjected to extensive empirical examination, both quantitative and qualitative, in the past 30 years. And the evidence shows, with striking clarity and consistency, a strong causal relationship between economic development and democracy."
The book sold more than 400,000 copies and was translated into 20 languages, including: Vietnamese, Bengali, and Serbo-Croatian.
Contents
Contents
Chapter I: The Sociology of Politics
PART I: The Conditions of the Democratic Order
Chapter II: Economic Development and Democracy
Chapter III: Social Conflict, Legitimacy, and Democracy
Chapter IV: Working-class Authoritarianism
Chapter V: Fascism—Left, Right, and Center
PART II: Voting in Western Democracies
Chapter VI: Elections: Who Votes and Who Doesn't?
Chapter VII: Elections: The Expression of the Democratic Class Struggle
Chapter VIII: Elections: The Expression of the Democratic Class Struggle—Continuity and Change
PART III: Political Behavior in American Society
Chapter IX: Classes and Parties in American Politics
Chapter X: American Intellectuals: Their Politics and Status
Chapter XI: The Emergence of the One-party South—The Election of 1860
PART IV: The Politics of Private Government: A Case Study
Chapter XII: The Political Process in Trade-unions
A Personal Postscript
Chapter XII: The Political Process in Trade-unions
Chapter synopsis
Chapter I: The Sociology of Politics: Successful/stable democracies need conflict or cleavages to succeed. Why? Allows for PEACEFUL play of power. E.g. Trade-unions help integrate members in the body politic and give them a basis for loyalty to the political system.
Chapter II: Economic Development and Democracy: Democracy: a political system which supplies regular constitutional opportunities for changing government officials, and a social mechanism which permits the largest possible part of the population to influence major decisions by choosing among contenders for office.
Definition implies a political formula or body of beliefs specifying which institutions are legitimate (accepted as proper by the citizenry): e.g. parties, press, etc. Winners and losers vie for political office. Why needed? Conditions needed because if a political system is not characterized by a value system allowing the peaceful play of power, democracy can become chaotic.
Chapter III: Social Conflict, Legitimacy, and Democracy
Chapter IV: Working-class Authoritarianism
Chapter V: Fascism—Left, Right, and Center
Chapter VI: Elections: Who Votes and Who Doesn't?
Chapter VII: Elections: The Expression of the Democratic Class Struggle
Chapter VIII: Elections: The Expression of the Democratic Class Struggle—Continuity and Change
Chapter IX: Classes and Parties in American Politics
Chapter X: American Intellectuals: Their Politics and Status
Chapter XI: The Emergence of the One-party South—The Election of 1860
Chapter XII: The Political Process in Trade-unions
