Overview

This book explores the course and causes of the worldwide diffusion of democracy through an assessment of the political and economic development of individual countries from the year 1800 to 2005. Using this extended range of data and examining multiple variables, Barbara Wejnert creates a conceptual model for the diffusion of democracy and to measure national democratization. The author characterizes each nation's political system, its networking with other countries, level of development, and media advancement, in order to pinpoint what leads to national and regional progress to, or regress from, democratization. Her innovative findings challenge established thinking and reveal that the growth of literacy does not lead to democratization but is instead an outcome of democracy. She also finds that networks between non-democratic and democratic states are more important to a nation's democratization than financial aid given to non-democratic regimes or the level of national development.

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9781107625259

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Reviews

'This study is bold in scope, impressive in the range of variables examined, meticulous in its statistical analysis, innovative in its large conclusions and full of interesting empirical details about the course of democratization in the world since 1800. Barbara Wejnert is an important voice arguing that countries do not move towards or away from democracy independently of what is happening elsewhere; analysts need to consider processes on a transnational scale.' John Markoff, University of Pittsburgh

Author Information

Barbara Wejnert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Transnational Studies at the State University of New York, Buffalo. Her interdisciplinary research is focused on the world-wide diffusion of democracy and globalization of the world and their effect on social inequality. She is an author and editor of ten books on issues of postcommunist transitions, democracy, and global development, and their impact on social inequalities, including gender inequality.

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