2015/07/11 by Sirianne Dahlum, Carl Henrik Knutsen · 72 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies #Democracy #Democratization #Econometrics #Economic system #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Endogeneity #Expression (computer science) #Freedom of expression #Human rights #Law #Liberal democracy #Political Conflict and Governance #Political economy #Political science #Politics #Positive economics #Psychology #Social psychology #World Values Survey
paper · open access · doi:10.1017/s0007123415000447
published in British Journal of Political Science 47(2), 437-461 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2015/07/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
The notion that cultural characteristics influence political regimes remains popular, despite mixed supporting evidence. In particular, democracy is argued to emerge and thrive in countries where liberal or freedom-oriented values (so-called self-expression values) are widespread. Inglehart and Welzel, for instance, report such an effect, mainly drawing inferences from cross-country comparisons. Yet cross-country correlations between self-expression values and democracy could stem from different processes. Reinvestigating this relationship, this article finds no empirical support when employing models accounting for sample-selection bias, country-specific effects and the endogeneity of values to democracy. Self-expression values do not enhance democracy levels or democratization chances, and neither do they stabilize existing democracies. In contrast, this study finds indications that a country’s experience with democracy enhances self-expression values.