Demokratins kategorier och demonologi : en problemsökande inventering

Authors

• Dag Anckar

Abstract

Democracy may be defined in a variety of ways. Different definitions focus attention on different problems. In this article, the metaphor of ‘demon’ is applied to assess some ways in which the pitfalls of democracy are typically conceived; the article can therefore be said to deal with the demonology of democracy research. Five demons are identified. The inclusivity demon entices one to apply definitions that unduly increase the number of democracies. The region demon like­wise tempts one to apply inclusive definitions but it does so out of concern for the study of spe­cific countries and regions. The demon of commensurability advocates the use of definitions that presume empirically non-valid correspondences between definition components, while the policy demon favours definitions that focus on policy content only. Finally, the sequence demon sup­ports the use of definitions that render difficult the study of sequential preconditions for demo­cratic stability. The ensuing analysis comes out in favour of a definition that combines the crite­rion of correct and competitive elections with the criterion of substantial political and civil rights and liberties.