| ID | 135965 |
| Title Proper | Authoritarianism and democracy in Muslim countries |
| Other Title Information | rentier states and regional diffusion |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Kuru, Ahmet T |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | ACCORDING TO FREEDOM HOUSE (2013),1 among countries with populations higher than 200,000, the proportion of electoral democracies is 56 percent (98/174) worldwide, whereas it is only 20 percent (10/49) in Muslim-majority countries. The average Freedom House score (1 for most and 7 for least democratic) for all countries (3.5) is also better than the average score for Muslim-majority countries (5.1). Analyzing countries with populations over 500,000, Polity (2010) reaches a similar result: 57 percent (93/164) of all countries and 28 percent (13/47) of Muslim-majority countries are democracies.2 Why is the rate (and score) of democracy disproportionately low among Muslim-majority countries? This article argues that the combined effects of rentier states and regional diffusion provide the best explanation. |
| `In' analytical Note | Political Science Quarterly Vol.129, No.3; Fal.2014: p.399-427 |
| Journal Source | Political Science Quarterly Vol: 129 No 3 |
| Standard Number | Democracy |