The book offers a comprehensive comparative survey of democracy across 172 contemporary states, providing in-depth analysis and historical data on democratic measures and explanatory variables dating back to the 1850s. It serves as a vital resource for understanding the evolution and current state of democratic governance worldwide.
The book explores the correlation between resource distribution and the rise of democracy across 170 countries, using data from the 1850s to today. It presents a compelling argument that suggests a strong connection between how resources are allocated and the development of democratic systems, highlighting the significance of economic factors in political evolution.
Vanhanen provides the most extensive comparative survey of the state and conditions of democracy ever made, with historical data and explanatory variables extending back to the 1850s, and with forecasts covering seven regions of the world.