Summary of the material for the workgroup (2022) for Introduction to Comparative Politics.
INCLUDES notes from (Total: 27 pages):
● Workgroup sessions 1-5.
● Anna Lührmann and Staffan I. Lindberg’s article (2019) “A third wave of autocratization is
here: what is new about it?”.
● Peter Mair’s book (2006) “Ruling the Void? The Hollowing of Western Democracy”.
● Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan’s article (2014) “Drop Your Weapons: When and Why
Civil Resistance Works”.
● Alexander Baturo’s book review (2016) on Miguel Carreras’ “Democracy, Dictatorship, and
Term Limits”.
1
Introduction to Comparative Politics Workgroup Notes
Table of Contents
Workgroup Notes 2
Session #1 2
Session #2 3
Session #3 4
Session #4 5
Session #5 5
“A third wave of autocratization is here: what is new about it?” 6
“Ruling the Void? The Hollowing of Western Democracy” 15
“Drop Your Weapons: When and Why Civil Resistance Works” 21
Book Review of “Democracy, Dictatorship, and Term Limits” 27
, 2
Workgroup Notes
Session #1
Introduction to the Course: What is a review?
Literature Review: An overview of the previously published works/theories on a specific topic.
Index (Ranking) Comparison: A useful benchmark from which to gauge relative progress or
competence from a comparative perspective (e.g. the EIU Democracy Index by the Economist
Intelligence Unit).
Levels of democracy:
● Full democracy
● Flawed democracy
● Hybrid regime
● Authoritarian regime
How do you measure democracy?
1. Electoral process and pluralism; free and fair elections.
2. Civil liberties; media and individual freedom.
3. The functioning of government; checks and balances/confidence.
4. Political participation; representation.
5. Political culture; public perceptions.
Full Democracy Authoritarian Regime
Basic political freedoms and civil liberties are State political pluralism is absent or heavily
respected and are underpinned by a political circumscribed. Many countries in this category are
culture conducive to the flourishing of outright dictatorships.
democracy.
Satisfactory functioning of the government. Some formal institutions of democracy may exist, but
these have little substance.
Media are independent and diverse. Media are typically state-owned or controlled by groups
connected to the ruling regime. There is repression of
criticism of the government and pervasive censorship.
There is an effective system of checks and Elections are NOT free and fair. There is disregard for
balances. abuses and infringements of civil liberties.
The judiciary is independent and judicial There is NO independent judiciary.
decisions are enforced. There are only limited
problems in the functioning of democracies.
Elements of research papers:
1. Introduction; motive and objective.
2. Literature review
3. Methodology
4. Support; data and analysis.
5. Conclusion; findings and implications.
, 3
ANALYSIS: Miguel Carreras’ Article (2016)
● Motive: “More than a quarter of the 200 term-bounded presidents who were elected
between 1960 and 2010 managed to extend their stay in office.”
● Objective: “The main goal of this book is to investigate the factors that encourage
presidents to play by the rules or to manipulate term limits.”
➔ Presidents tend to extend their tenures when granted rent-seeking opportunities and
immunity after leaving office.
● Literature Review: Focus/create more literature on analysing how democratically elected
leaders may choose to interrupt the democratic process resulting in democratic breakdowns
(i.e. presidents’ lack of respect for constitutionally mandated term limits).
● Support (Data & Analysis): Carreras breakdowns and analyzes each of the book’s
chapters (strengths and weaknesses). A theoretical narrative is followed.
● Conclusion (Finding & Implications): “Given the importance of the topic, the original
arguments, and the empirical findings, this book will be of interest for scholars of
comparative institutions and students of democratic erosion.
Session #2
Discussion of Readings
Social Scientific Research Motive: Connects a real-world problem to a broader scientific debate
(relates to the knowledge gap and the importance of filling it).
➔ Quantitative data = cause and effect
➔ Qualitative = gives the actual procedure. Is needed to create a theory.
Objective: The goal of the research and the steps needed to achieve this; fill any knowledge gaps
identified in the motive.
E.g. Anna Lührmann and Staffan I. Lindberg’s research objective(s):
When summarising a text, use a combination of doing so before and while reading the text. Ask the
questions regarding:
● “What elements of research articles can be found (motive, objective, literary review?”
● Important definitions, conceptualizations and indicators.
INCLUDES notes from (Total: 27 pages):
● Workgroup sessions 1-5.
● Anna Lührmann and Staffan I. Lindberg’s article (2019) “A third wave of autocratization is
here: what is new about it?”.
● Peter Mair’s book (2006) “Ruling the Void? The Hollowing of Western Democracy”.
● Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan’s article (2014) “Drop Your Weapons: When and Why
Civil Resistance Works”.
● Alexander Baturo’s book review (2016) on Miguel Carreras’ “Democracy, Dictatorship, and
Term Limits”.
1
Introduction to Comparative Politics Workgroup Notes
Table of Contents
Workgroup Notes 2
Session #1 2
Session #2 3
Session #3 4
Session #4 5
Session #5 5
“A third wave of autocratization is here: what is new about it?” 6
“Ruling the Void? The Hollowing of Western Democracy” 15
“Drop Your Weapons: When and Why Civil Resistance Works” 21
Book Review of “Democracy, Dictatorship, and Term Limits” 27
, 2
Workgroup Notes
Session #1
Introduction to the Course: What is a review?
Literature Review: An overview of the previously published works/theories on a specific topic.
Index (Ranking) Comparison: A useful benchmark from which to gauge relative progress or
competence from a comparative perspective (e.g. the EIU Democracy Index by the Economist
Intelligence Unit).
Levels of democracy:
● Full democracy
● Flawed democracy
● Hybrid regime
● Authoritarian regime
How do you measure democracy?
1. Electoral process and pluralism; free and fair elections.
2. Civil liberties; media and individual freedom.
3. The functioning of government; checks and balances/confidence.
4. Political participation; representation.
5. Political culture; public perceptions.
Full Democracy Authoritarian Regime
Basic political freedoms and civil liberties are State political pluralism is absent or heavily
respected and are underpinned by a political circumscribed. Many countries in this category are
culture conducive to the flourishing of outright dictatorships.
democracy.
Satisfactory functioning of the government. Some formal institutions of democracy may exist, but
these have little substance.
Media are independent and diverse. Media are typically state-owned or controlled by groups
connected to the ruling regime. There is repression of
criticism of the government and pervasive censorship.
There is an effective system of checks and Elections are NOT free and fair. There is disregard for
balances. abuses and infringements of civil liberties.
The judiciary is independent and judicial There is NO independent judiciary.
decisions are enforced. There are only limited
problems in the functioning of democracies.
Elements of research papers:
1. Introduction; motive and objective.
2. Literature review
3. Methodology
4. Support; data and analysis.
5. Conclusion; findings and implications.
, 3
ANALYSIS: Miguel Carreras’ Article (2016)
● Motive: “More than a quarter of the 200 term-bounded presidents who were elected
between 1960 and 2010 managed to extend their stay in office.”
● Objective: “The main goal of this book is to investigate the factors that encourage
presidents to play by the rules or to manipulate term limits.”
➔ Presidents tend to extend their tenures when granted rent-seeking opportunities and
immunity after leaving office.
● Literature Review: Focus/create more literature on analysing how democratically elected
leaders may choose to interrupt the democratic process resulting in democratic breakdowns
(i.e. presidents’ lack of respect for constitutionally mandated term limits).
● Support (Data & Analysis): Carreras breakdowns and analyzes each of the book’s
chapters (strengths and weaknesses). A theoretical narrative is followed.
● Conclusion (Finding & Implications): “Given the importance of the topic, the original
arguments, and the empirical findings, this book will be of interest for scholars of
comparative institutions and students of democratic erosion.
Session #2
Discussion of Readings
Social Scientific Research Motive: Connects a real-world problem to a broader scientific debate
(relates to the knowledge gap and the importance of filling it).
➔ Quantitative data = cause and effect
➔ Qualitative = gives the actual procedure. Is needed to create a theory.
Objective: The goal of the research and the steps needed to achieve this; fill any knowledge gaps
identified in the motive.
E.g. Anna Lührmann and Staffan I. Lindberg’s research objective(s):
When summarising a text, use a combination of doing so before and while reading the text. Ask the
questions regarding:
● “What elements of research articles can be found (motive, objective, literary review?”
● Important definitions, conceptualizations and indicators.
