Making Democratic Governance Work
How Regimes Shape Prosperity, Welfare, and Peace

This book argues that both liberal democracy and state capacity need strengthening to deliver effective development.

Pippa Norris (Author)

9781107016996, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 August 2012

294 pages, 23 b/w illus. 2 maps 11 tables
23.4 x 15.6 x 2.1 cm, 0.63 kg

“Pippa Norris has done it again. With masterful grasp of the literature and a breathtaking tour de force through vast masses of empirical data, she comes through with one simple and crystal clear conclusion: it's not a question of promoting democracy or building state capacity; it's a question of doing both. This book deserves to be read well beyond the boundaries of academia.” – Jan Teorell, Professor of Political Science, Lund University

Is democratic governance good for economic prosperity? Does it accelerate progress towards social welfare and human development? Does it generate a peace-dividend and reduce conflict at home? Within the international community, democracy and governance are widely advocated as intrinsically desirable goals. Nevertheless, alternative schools of thought dispute their consequences and the most effective strategy for achieving critical developmental objectives. This book argues that both liberal democracy and state capacity need to be strengthened to ensure effective development, within the constraints posed by structural conditions. Liberal democracy allows citizens to express their demands, hold public officials to account and rid themselves of ineffective leaders. Yet rising public demands that cannot be met by the state generate disillusionment with incumbent officeholders, the regime, or ultimately the promise of liberal democracy ideals. Thus governance capacity also plays a vital role in advancing human security, enabling states to respond effectively to citizen's demands.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Does democratic governance determine human security?
2. Theories of regime effects
Part II. Comparing Regimes: 3. The regime typology
4. Analyzing regime effects
Part III. Development Outcomes: 5. Prosperity
6. Welfare
7. Peace
Part IV. Conclusions: 8. Why regimes matter.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Comparative politics [JPB]