Description
Book SynopsisWhy did precarious and collapsed democracies in Europe develop into highly stable democracies? Gerard Alexander offers a rational choice theory of democratic consolidation in a survey of the breakdowns of and transitions to democratic institutions. Through an analysis of developments in Spain, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, Alexander explores how key political sectors established the long-term commitment to democracy that distinguishes consolidated democracies.
Alexander makes a highly accessible rationalist argument about the conditions under which such commitments emerge, arguing that powerful sectors abandon options for overthrowing democratic rules only when they predict low risks in democracy. The author''s argument parallels established claims about the predictability essential to the development of modern capitalism.
The Sources of Democratic Consolidation outlines Alexander''s claim that a political precondition, rather than an economic or social p
Trade Review
Alexander offers an excellent contribution to the literature examining how and why new democracies become consolidated. In essence, the author argues persuasively the genuine consolidation occurs only when powerful segments of society have become convinced that their opponents will predictably refrain from using democratic rules to seriously harm their core assets or values.
-- J. M. Scolnick, Jr. * Choice *
Despite the author's intention, he has produced a book of social science that turns into a fine rehabilitation of history.
* Foreign Affairs *
This book... should command a wide audience. Students of democratization and Western European politics will find it a useful addition to their libraries. Indeed, it would also be a useful book to assign in graduate seminars on research design and comparative politics. The Sources of Democratic Consolidation nicely illustrates the strengths and limitations of the rational choice approach to comparative politics.
-- Christopher Kam, University of South Carolina * Canadian Journal of Political Science *
This is an important work that should be of interest to everyone working in the field of democratic transition and consolidation.
-- Eddie Hyland, Trinity College Dublin * Democratization *
Alexander has written a remarkable book that challenges some received wisdoms. Theoretically innovative, founded on solid research and much incontrovertible evidence, The Sources of Democratic Consolidation is a real and significant contribution to the existing literature. Indeed, it does so by going well beyond most of this literature.
-- Gianfranco Pasquino, University of Bologna * Perspectives on Politics *
