Elections in Hard Times
Building Stronger Democracies in the 21st Century

Demonstrates why elections fail to promote democracy when countries lack democratic experience and are held during civil conflict.

Thomas Edward Flores (Author), Irfan Nooruddin (Author)

9781107584631, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 August 2016

298 pages, 38 b/w illus. 8 tables
23.2 x 15.4 x 1.5 cm, 0.48 kg

'This volume by Flores and Nooruddin argues that elections are most likely to fail to strengthen democracy in countries with shallow stocks of experience of prior competitive contests, in weak states lacking fiscal resources, and in divided societies with a history of violent civil conflict. In other words, longstanding structural constraints limit attempts to hold democratic elections. Whether and how states can break out of this enduring legacy remains a complex and challenging issue. In an accessible and systematic manner, the authors provide fresh cross-national time-series evidence to support this plausible thesis, providing an invaluable contribution to the burgeoning research.' Pippa Norris, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Massachusetts

Why are 'free and fair' elections so often followed by democratic backsliding? Elections in Hard Times answers this critical question, showing why even clean elections fail to advance democracy when held amidst challenging structural conditions. The book opens with a comprehensive, accessible synthesis of fifty years of research on elections and democratization, a resource for experts, policymakers, and students. It then develops a new theory of why elections fail in countries with little democratic history or fiscal resources, and a history of violent conflict. In a series of five empirical chapters, the book leverages an eclectic mix of cross-national data, short case studies and surveys of voters to support this theory. It closes with a careful examination of popular strategies of democracy promotion, evaluating steps designed to support elections. This book will attract academic experts on democratization and elections, students and policymakers.

Part I. From Elections to Democracy: Theory and Evidence: 1. Introduction
2. Why have elections failed to deliver? An answer
3. The third wave(s) and the electoral boom
Part II. Challenges Facing Elections in Developing Countries: 4. The ephemeral power of contingent legitimacy
5. Experience matters: democratic stock and elections
6. Starved states: fiscal space and elections
7. Violent votes: conflict and elections
Part III. Democracy Promotion for the Twenty-First Century: 8. Democracy promotion for the twenty-first century
9. Conclusions
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB]