Politics of Democratic Breakdown

Description

Democratic breakdown as a political and historic event can impact the fate of millions, if not hundreds of millions of people, by changing the political complexion of a country. This book attempts to systematically explain why democracies collapse. The author's main theoretical argument is based on the examination of two factors. One is political cleavages among voters. These can cause serious political conflicts and may lead to fierce political confrontation and major upheaval at the society level. The other revolves around the types of political and institutional arrangements under democratic regimes. Centrifugal democratic regimes are likely to weaken government capacity or state capacity, rendering governments incapable of effectively resolving political conflicts and, when these two factors come together, political conflicts are less likely to be controlled effectively. These situations can evolve into serious political crises and eventually lead to the collapse of democratic regimes. The empirical research of this book is based on a comparative historical analysis of Germany, Nigeria, Chile, and India. Examining democratic collapses from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, this book will be of interest to those engaged in the study of democracy, Political Science, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Figures Tables Preface Part I Theory of Democratic Breakdown 1 Introduction: A New Explanation of Democratic Breakdown Democratic Breakdown and Its History Literature Review A New Theoretical Explanation Research Methods and Case Selection Notes Bibliography 2 The Logic of Political Cleavages Political Cleavages and Political Conflict The Typology of Political Cleavages Class Cleavage Religious Cleavage Ethnic Cleavage Regional Cleavage Measurement of Political Cleavages Notes Bibliography 3 Political Institutions and Centrifugal Democracy Political Institutions, State Capacity, and Political Conflict Political Institutional Arrangements at Different Levels Statehood Issue: Political Institutional Arrangements of Center-Local Relations Government-Society Relations: Electoral Systems and Related Party Systems Within Government: Executive-Legislative Relations The Characteristics of Centrifugal Democracy and Centripetal Democracy Notes Bibliography Part II Case Studies 4 Democratic Breakdown in the Weimar Republic The Origin of the German State and the Weimar Republic State Building of the German Empire Constitution and Political System of the German Empire Democratic Elections and Party Politics The Collapse of the Empire and the Establishment of the Weimar Republic Political Cleavages in the Weimar Republic German Society and Types of Political Cleavages Among Voters Rise of Division Among Early Voters in the Republic: 1919–23 Decline in Political Cleavage Among Voters in the Weimar Republic: 1924–8 Intensification of Political Cleavages in the Late Weimar Republic: 1929–33 The Weimar Constitution and Political Crisis Electoral System and Form of Government Under the Weimar Constitution Political Consequences of the Weimar Political System Political Crisis, the Rise of the Nazis, and Democratic Collapse Notes Bibliography 5 Ethnic Conflicts and the Dilemma of Democracy in Nigeria Colonial Rule and the Origin of Nigeria’s Modern Politics Nigeria’s Politics and Society Before British Colonial Rule British Colonial Rule and the Political Landscape of Nigeria Nationalism, Party Politics, and National Independence Ethnic Conflicts, Regional Competition, and Political Cleavage of Voters Political and Social Background of Nigeria’s Independence Voter Mobilization, Party Politics, and Ethnic Cleavages Increasing Political Cleavage and Intensification of Political Conflict Federal Constitution, Political Institutions, and Crisis of Stateness Institutional Arrangements of Nigeria’s Democracy The Centrifugal Effect of Institutions and the Behavior of Political Elites Political Crisis and Collapse of the First Republic Notes Bibliography 6 Class Conflict and the Failure of Chile’s Democracy From Competitive Regime to Democratic Regime The Origin of Chile’s Competitive Regime and Its Evolution Socioeconomic Conditions and Class Structure The Pattern of Political Forces and Party Politics Industrialization, Universal Suffrage, and Class Cleavages Among Voters Class Structure and Class Cleavage Universal Suffrage and Political Participation of the Lower Classes Political Issues and Violent Conflict in the Era of Democracy The Constitution and the Crisis of Democracy Proportional Representation and Polarized Multiparty Politics Executive-Legislative Conflict and Constitutional Crisis Economic Crisis, Military Coup, and Democratic Breakdown Notes Bibliography 7 The Miracle of Indian Democracy and Its Constitution British Colonial Rule and the Origin of Indian Democracy The Mughal Empire and Traditional Indian Society British Colonial Rule and Its Political Consequences Nationalist Movement and Origin of Indian Democracy Social Structure and Political Cleavages Among Voters Modernization, Population, and Types of Political Cleavages in India Political Cleavages Among Voters During the Period of Congress Party Dominance: 1947–67 Political Mobilization and the Rise of Political Cleavages Among Voters: 1989 to Present Constitutional Design and Political Institutional Arrangements Political Institutions and One-Party Dominant System of the Indian National Congress: 1947–67 Transformation of the Indian Party System and Resilience of Political Institutions: 1989 to the 2010s Crisis of Indian Democracy and Its Future Notes Bibliography Part III Conclusion and Implications 8 Conclusion: How to Avoid the Failure of Young Democracies? Theoretical Reflection On Democratic Breakdown Political Cleavage and Democratic Transition Constitutional Design, Institutional Arrangements, and Democratic Transition Notes Bibliography Bibliography Index