Homework answers / question archive / Week 5: Democratic Backsliding and Political Economy Basics Democratic Backsliding How has democratic backsliding changed over time? Where is backsliding occurring? In react years, what are the major factors driving democratic backsliding?   In what ways does polarization drive democratic backsliding? What are the potential sources of polarization? How do centrists strengthen and/or weaken democracy?   What evidence does Haggard/Kaufman and Svolik use to support their argument? What are the strengths and weaknesses in each of their approaches?   Bonus: Svolik argues his experiments more accurately measure respondents’ value of democratic institutions through ‘revealed preferences’ in candidate-choice surveys, what biases might still affect his survey results?   Political Economy Basics   What ways do states intervene in the economy? How does state intervention vary across countries? (i

Week 5: Democratic Backsliding and Political Economy Basics Democratic Backsliding How has democratic backsliding changed over time? Where is backsliding occurring? In react years, what are the major factors driving democratic backsliding?   In what ways does polarization drive democratic backsliding? What are the potential sources of polarization? How do centrists strengthen and/or weaken democracy?   What evidence does Haggard/Kaufman and Svolik use to support their argument? What are the strengths and weaknesses in each of their approaches?   Bonus: Svolik argues his experiments more accurately measure respondents’ value of democratic institutions through ‘revealed preferences’ in candidate-choice surveys, what biases might still affect his survey results?   Political Economy Basics   What ways do states intervene in the economy? How does state intervention vary across countries? (i

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Week 5: Democratic Backsliding and Political Economy Basics

Democratic Backsliding

1. How has democratic backsliding changed over time? Where is backsliding occurring? In react years, what are the major factors driving democratic backsliding?

 

2. In what ways does polarization drive democratic backsliding? What are the potential sources of polarization? How do centrists strengthen and/or weaken democracy?

 

3. What evidence does Haggard/Kaufman and Svolik use to support their argument? What are the strengths and weaknesses in each of their approaches?

 

Bonus: Svolik argues his experiments more accurately measure respondents’ value of democratic institutions through ‘revealed preferences’ in candidate-choice surveys, what biases might still affect his survey results?

 

Political Economy Basics

 

1. What ways do states intervene in the economy? How does state intervention vary across countries? (i.e. 4 different models of political economy)

 

2. What are the two competing forms of capitalism? What are the advantages and disadvantages that each form possesses? Which do you think will become more prevalent?

 

3. Why do we see rising inequality in the last few decades? Where is inequality growing? What are the major factors driving this trend?

 

Bonus: Which of the forms of political economy do you think is the most effective? Does living in the U.S. (or another country) affect a person’s view on which form of political economy is more effective?

 

Answers should be based on:

* Haggard and Kaufman, “Anatomy of Democratic Backsliding.”

* Svolik, “Polarization versus Democracy.”

O’Neil et al., Cases and Concepts, chp. 4, “Political Economy,” pp. 88-108, and chp. 7,

“Developed Democracies,” pp. 193-198 and pp. 209-211.

* Milanovic, “The Clash of Capitalisms.”

* Dadush and Dervis, “The Inequality Challenge.”