Description
Book SynopsisExamining whether election monitoring is an effective way to promote democracy or simply a means to legitimize electoral autocracies.
Trade ReviewThis book tackles an interesting puzzle: Why would pseudo-democrats invite international election observers and cheat in front of them if getting caught is costly? A norm has developed because of leaders' attempts to signal to the international community their democratic credentials, even if they are not really committed to democracy. Susan D Hyde establishes a strategic tension for pseudo-democrats that is straightforward and compelling, and she provides an impressive array of empirical evidence to support her claims: cross-national time-series data, within-country experimental evidence, and qualitative accounts from hundreds of observer reports. The Pseudo-Democrat’s Dilemma is a must-read for those interested in elections and the development of norms.
* Perspectives on Politics *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1 Signaling Democracy and the Norm of Internationally Observed Elections
2 Sovereign Leaders and the Decision to Invite Observers
3 Democracy-Contingent Benefits
4 Does Election Monitoring Matter?
5 The Quality of Monitoring and Strategic Manipulation
Conclusion: Constrained Leaders and Changing International ExpectationsAppendices
A. Formalization of Signaling Game
B. CodebookBibliography
Index
