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Where and why was democracy successful in the twentieth century? In
The Democratic Century, Seymour Martin Lipset and Jason Lakin
combine social, cultural, economic, and institutional analyses to
explain why democracy has succeeded in some countries and failed in
others.Defining democracy as a political system in which all adults
may vote in contested elections to choose their representatives,
Lipset and Lakin argue that the mainstays of a successful system
are institutions that encourage the diffusion of power - such as
competitive parties, an independent civil society, and federalist
arrangements. But central to their argument is the notion that
culture, at least as much as any other variable, is responsible for
the establishment of democracy. The authors' concept of culture is
not static, however. They argue that, because cultures interact
with social, economic, and political variables, they can change and
become compatible with democracy. Consequently, Lipset and Lakin
hope for a democratic twenty-first century. The Democratic Century
revisits theories from Lipset's earlier works, including the
classics Agrarian Socialism and Political Man. But the authors do
more than update Lipset's work; they offer an expansive view of
democratic systems and of the vast body of relevant literature.
Where and why was democracy successful in the twentieth century? In
The Democratic Century, Seymour Martin Lipset and Jason Lakin
combine social, cultural, economic, and institutional analyses to
explain why democracy has succeeded in some countries and failed in
others.Defining democracy as a political system in which all adults
may vote in contested elections to choose their representatives,
Lipset and Lakin argue that the mainstays of a successful system
are institutions that encourage the diffusion of power - such as
competitive parties, an independent civil society, and federalist
arrangements. But central to their argument is the notion that
culture, at least as much as any other variable, is responsible for
the establishment of democracy. The authors' concept of culture is
not static, however. They argue that, because cultures interact
with social, economic, and political variables, they can change and
become compatible with democracy. Consequently, Lipset and Lakin
hope for a democratic twenty-first century. The Democratic Century
revisits theories from Lipset's earlier works, including the
classics Agrarian Socialism and Political Man. But the authors do
more than update Lipset's work; they offer an expansive view of
democratic systems and of the vast body of relevant literature.
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