The Economic Development-Democratization Relationship

Abstract

The relationship between economic development and democratization offers a central focus in linking comparative and international politics. Analysts agree that economic development facilitates democratization but that the relationship is considerably less than perfect. Should advocates of the democratic peace argument prove to be correct in emphasizing the role of regime type in pacifying international politics, an obvious question becomes, What else drives democratization besides economic development? In this article, the authors explore the relationship between domestic development, in the form of economic growth and democratization, and international conditions. They suggest that a number of international factors, such as external threat, conflict, and trade openness, can aid or abet democratization and economic growth. To systematically analyze one facet of this proposition they use both robust regression and generalized estimating equations and find that the international environment significantly alters democracy. External threats from other states tend to decrease democracy.