Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017
This study examines types of democracies that result from trade-offs within the democratic quality. Recently, the existence and relevance of trade-offs has been widely discussed. The idea is that the functions associated with the quality of democracy cannot all be maximized simultaneously. Thus, tra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cogitatio
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Politics and Governance |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/2244 |
| _version_ | 1818175464854781952 |
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| author | Oliver Schlenkrich |
| author_facet | Oliver Schlenkrich |
| author_sort | Oliver Schlenkrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines types of democracies that result from trade-offs within the democratic quality. Recently, the existence and relevance of trade-offs has been widely discussed. The idea is that the functions associated with the quality of democracy cannot all be maximized simultaneously. Thus, trade-offs are expressed in distinct profiles of democracy. Different profiles of democracy favour certain democracy dimensions over others due to their institutional design. Conceptually, we differentiate between four different democracy profiles: a libertarian-majoritarian (high political freedom, lower political equality, and lower political and legal control values), an egalitarian-majoritarian (high equality combined with lower freedom and control values), as well as two control-focused democracy profiles (high control values either with high degrees of freedom or high degrees of equality). We apply a cluster analysis with a focus on cluster validation on the Democracy Matrix dataset—a customized version of the Varieties-of-Democracy dataset. To increase the robustness of the cluster results, this study uses several different cluster algorithms, multiple fit indices as well as data resampling techniques. Based on all democracies between 1900 and 2017, we find strong empirical evidence for these democracy profiles. Finally, we discuss the temporal development and spatial distribution of the democracy profiles globally across the three waves of democracy, as well as for individual countries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:00:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed07fbb9c47f4042b5e1cc5ef1c2add5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-2463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T20:00:43Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Politics and Governance |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed07fbb9c47f4042b5e1cc5ef1c2add52022-12-22T00:52:32ZengCogitatioPolitics and Governance2183-24632019-11-017431533010.17645/pag.v7i4.22441223Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017Oliver Schlenkrich0Chair of Comparative Politics and German Government, University of Wuerzburg, GermanyThis study examines types of democracies that result from trade-offs within the democratic quality. Recently, the existence and relevance of trade-offs has been widely discussed. The idea is that the functions associated with the quality of democracy cannot all be maximized simultaneously. Thus, trade-offs are expressed in distinct profiles of democracy. Different profiles of democracy favour certain democracy dimensions over others due to their institutional design. Conceptually, we differentiate between four different democracy profiles: a libertarian-majoritarian (high political freedom, lower political equality, and lower political and legal control values), an egalitarian-majoritarian (high equality combined with lower freedom and control values), as well as two control-focused democracy profiles (high control values either with high degrees of freedom or high degrees of equality). We apply a cluster analysis with a focus on cluster validation on the Democracy Matrix dataset—a customized version of the Varieties-of-Democracy dataset. To increase the robustness of the cluster results, this study uses several different cluster algorithms, multiple fit indices as well as data resampling techniques. Based on all democracies between 1900 and 2017, we find strong empirical evidence for these democracy profiles. Finally, we discuss the temporal development and spatial distribution of the democracy profiles globally across the three waves of democracy, as well as for individual countries.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/2244cluster analysisdemocracydemocracy profilesquality of democracytrade-offs |
| spellingShingle | Oliver Schlenkrich Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 Politics and Governance cluster analysis democracy democracy profiles quality of democracy trade-offs |
| title | Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| title_full | Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| title_fullStr | Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| title_short | Identifying Profiles of Democracies: A Cluster Analysis Based on the Democracy Matrix Dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| title_sort | identifying profiles of democracies a cluster analysis based on the democracy matrix dataset from 1900 to 2017 |
| topic | cluster analysis democracy democracy profiles quality of democracy trade-offs |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/2244 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oliverschlenkrich identifyingprofilesofdemocraciesaclusteranalysisbasedonthedemocracymatrixdatasetfrom1900to2017 |