Up: robert-dahl democratization-autocratization #political-science
in Robert Dahl’s “Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition”
- Cost of toleration:
- Refers to the perceived risks and burdens that elites face when allowing opposition and participation. It includes the potential loss of power, influence, or privileges, as well as the possibility of social unrest or instability.
- Cost of suppression:
- Refers to the costs of using force, coercion, or other repressive measures to control opposition. It includes the potential for public backlash, international. condemnation, and the weakening of the regime’s legitimacy.
- Dahl’s argument:
- A regime will be more likely to democratize if the potential costs of suppressing opposition are perceived as greater than the costs of tolerating it. If the regime believes that the risks of repression are too high, it may be more inclined to make concessions and allow for a more competitive political system.
- Factors affecting the costs:
- The relative costs of toleration and suppression are influenced by a variety of factors, including the power and resources of the ruling elite, the strength and organization of the opposition, the presence or absence of external pressures, and the regime’s historical experience with repression.