Inequality and democracy

How much inequality can a democracy take? Does heterogeneity hinder democratization? How does the unequal distribution of power resources and income effect the stability of a democracy?

Previous research linking heterogeneity and democracy usually focuses on a single dimension of heterogeneity. Wolfgang Merkel (WZB) and Brigitte Weiffen (University of Konstanz) have now drawn an overall picture: Their empirical analysis gauges the effect of various dimensions of heterogeneity, especially in young democracies from the mid-1970s until 2007. They found that, while most facets of heterogeneity do not hinder democratic transition, most of them complicate democratic consolidation.

In developed democracies socio-economic inequality tends to exclude poorer people from the political process and thus undermines the participatory substance of democracy.

The study has been published in the journal Comparative Sociology.