POLARITY, POLARIZATION, AND DEMOCRACY: RESULTS FROM THE LINEAR DEMOCRACY DATA

Abstract

This paper empirically improves the model and re-tests the theory proposed by Güner 2016 which argues that democratization is impacted by systemic factors such as polarity and polarization. Guner 2016 argues that individual leadership choices on democratization do not exist in a vacuum and they might be shaped by macrolevel, systemic factors. Güner’s theory is an interdisciplinary contribution to the study of democracy which combines macro-level international factors and micro-level individual/leader behavior. In this paper, this hypothesis is re-tested, improving the fixed effects panel regression with linear democracy data and extending the observations to from 5499 to 8596. The results support the argument that polarity and polarization have a significant impact on democratization.

Keywords

• POLARITY
• POLARIZATION
• DEMOCRACY

References

1. Acemoglu, D. & Robinson, J.A. 2003. Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy. New York: Cambridge University Press.
2. Bennett, D. S & Stam, A. 2000. EUGene: A Conceptual Manual. International Interactions, 26, 179-204 (http://www.eugenesoftware.org) version 3.204.
3. Bollen, Kenneth A & Robert W Jackman.1989. Democracy, Stability, and Dichotomies. American Sociological Review, 54, 612-621.
4. Cheibub, J. A., Gandhi, J. and Vreeland, J. R. 2010. Democracy and Dictatorship Revisited. Public Choice, 143, 67-101.
5. Crescenzi, M. J C & Enterline, A.J. 1999. Ripples from the Waves? A Systemic, Time-Series Analysis of Democracy, Democratization, and Interstate War. Journal of Peace Research, 36(1), 75.
6. Gassebner, M; Lamla, M.J & Vreeland, J.R. 2012. Extreme Bounds of Democracy. Journal of Conflict Resolution, July: DOI: 10.1177/0022002712446132
7. Geller, D. S & Singer, J.D. 1998. Nations at War: A Scientific Study of International Conflict. Cambridge University Press.
8. Gibler, D. M & Sarkees, M.R. 2004. Measuring Alliances: The Correlates of War Formal Interstate Alliance Dataset, 1816–2000. Journal of Peace Research, 41(2), 211.

9. Güner S. E. 2015. Polarity, Polarization and Democracy in the Middle East. Centre for Policy and Research on Turkey (ResearchTurkey), 4 (1), 6-22. (http://researchturkey.org/?p=7708)
10. Güner S. E. 2016. Polarity, Polarization, and Democracy. Journal of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Vol. 3, 144–152 ISSN: 2375-8899
11. Kadera, K. M; Crescenzi, M.J.C & Shannon, M.L. 2003. Democratic Survival, Peace, and War in the International System. American Journal of Political Science, 47(2), 234-247.
12. Leeds, B.A; Ritter, J.M.; Mitchell, S.M.L & Long, A.G. 2002. Alliance Treaty Obligations and Provisions, 1815-1944. International Interactions, 28, 237-260.
13. Lipset, S. M. 1959. Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Political Legitimacy. The American Political Science Review, 53(1), 69-105.
14. Maddison, A. 2008. Historical Statistics of the World Economy: 1-2008 AD. University of Groningen. (http://www.ggdc.net/maddison/Maddison.htm) Maoz, Z. 2006. Network Polarization, Network Interdependence, and International Conflict, 1816–2002. Journal of Peace Research, 43(4), 391.
15. Marshall, Monty G. and Keith Jaggers. 2010. Polity IV Project: Political Regime Characteristics and Transitions, 1800-2010. Version p4v2010.
16. Przeworski, A.; Alvarez, M.; Cheibub, J.A & Limongi, F. 2000. Democracy and Development: Political Institutions and Material Well-Being in the World: 1950-1990. New York: Cambridge University Press.
17. Sarkees, M. R. & Wayman, F. 2010. Resort to War: 1816 - 2007. CQ Press
18. Singer, J. D.; Bremer, S. & Stuckey, J. 1972. Capability Distribution, Uncertainty, and Major Power War, 1820-1965. In Russett, B.M. (ed.) Peace, War, and Numbers (pp.19-48). Beverly Hills: Sage.
19. Thompson, W. R. 1996. Democracy and Peace: Putting the Cart Before the Horse? International Organization, 50(1), 141-174.
20. Weingast, B. 1997. The Political Foundations of Democracy and the Rule of Law. American Political Science Review, 91, 245-63.