Income Inequality and Democratization Revisited: Comment on Muller

Edward N. Muller's argument (see abstract in SA 44:3) that rates of inequality have an inverse causal relationship with democratization is criticized for a perceived lack of conceptual fit between his theory & empirical evidence. It is contended that Muller has conflated inequality with equ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American sociological review 1995-12, Vol.60 (6), p.983-989
Main Authors: Bollen, Kenneth A., Jackman, Robert W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical estimating
Bourgeois
Coefficients
Communism
Democracy
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND INSTITUTIONS
Development sociology
INCOME
Income estimates
Income Inequality
Industrialization
Linear regression
Political Development
Political sociology
Sociology
Sociology of economy and development
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Summary:Edward N. Muller's argument (see abstract in SA 44:3) that rates of inequality have an inverse causal relationship with democratization is criticized for a perceived lack of conceptual fit between his theory & empirical evidence. It is contended that Muller has conflated inequality with equity & has failed to account for alternative explanations that fit his empirical evidence. It is suggested that future research must: (1) be able to identify countries at risk of experiencing significant changes in the status of democracy; (2) better specify the mediating effect of industrialization on democratization; & (3) include analysis of the behavior of key political actors. 1 Table, 26 References. D. M. Smith
ISSN:0003-1224
1939-8271
DOI:10.2307/2096436