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Democratization and Structured Contingency in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes: A Nested Investigation

Ovdal, Steffen (2008)
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The aim with this study is to empirically investigate explanations behind different levels of democracy in a competitive authoritarian setting. My theoretical perspective is based on a structured contingency approach, since I argue that the common dichotomy between structural and actor-oriented causes behind democratization is unfruitful. Moreover, I use a nested research design that combines cross-national analyses with case study research.

The main finding of the quantitative analysis is that diffusion effects and opposition mobilization are significant when it comes to explaining variation on the dependent variable. Among these factors the small-n analysis focuses on the latter, which is motivated by the fact that the statistical... (More)
The aim with this study is to empirically investigate explanations behind different levels of democracy in a competitive authoritarian setting. My theoretical perspective is based on a structured contingency approach, since I argue that the common dichotomy between structural and actor-oriented causes behind democratization is unfruitful. Moreover, I use a nested research design that combines cross-national analyses with case study research.

The main finding of the quantitative analysis is that diffusion effects and opposition mobilization are significant when it comes to explaining variation on the dependent variable. Among these factors the small-n analysis focuses on the latter, which is motivated by the fact that the statistical result concerning opposition mobilization is relatively more secure.

The case study investigates the bulldozer revolution that occurred in Serbia (2000). In this analysis I demonstrate that the ousting of Milosevic can be understood from a background of low regime legitimacy and international inspiration effects. These structural circumstances enabled actors within the Serbian opposition to mobilize massively, which in the end led to splits between the incumbent regime and the state security forces. (Less)
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author
Ovdal, Steffen
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
competitive authoritarianism, nested research design, structured contingency, opposition mobilization, diffusion effects, Political and administrative sciences, Statsvetenskap, förvaltningskunskap
language
English
id
1318952
date added to LUP
2008-09-03 00:00:00
date last changed
2008-09-03 00:00:00
@misc{1318952,
  abstract     = {{The aim with this study is to empirically investigate explanations behind different levels of democracy in a competitive authoritarian setting. My theoretical perspective is based on a structured contingency approach, since I argue that the common dichotomy between structural and actor-oriented causes behind democratization is unfruitful. Moreover, I use a nested research design that combines cross-national analyses with case study research.

The main finding of the quantitative analysis is that diffusion effects and opposition mobilization are significant when it comes to explaining variation on the dependent variable. Among these factors the small-n analysis focuses on the latter, which is motivated by the fact that the statistical result concerning opposition mobilization is relatively more secure.

The case study investigates the bulldozer revolution that occurred in Serbia (2000). In this analysis I demonstrate that the ousting of Milosevic can be understood from a background of low regime legitimacy and international inspiration effects. These structural circumstances enabled actors within the Serbian opposition to mobilize massively, which in the end led to splits between the incumbent regime and the state security forces.}},
  author       = {{Ovdal, Steffen}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Democratization and Structured Contingency in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes: A Nested Investigation}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}