The Diverse Effects of Diversity on Democracy

2016/04/11 by John Gerring, Michael Hoffman, Dominic Zarecki · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Mathematics · #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies #Religion and Society Interactions #Political Conflict and Governance #Diversity (politics) #Variety (cybernetics) #Democracy #Argument (complex analysis) #Politics #Positive economics #Political science #Sociology #Social science #Political economy #Development economics #Economics #Law #Biology #Mathematics #Statistics

paper · doi:10.1017/s000712341600003x

openalex publication_date 2016/04/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Diverse identities coexisting within the same society are often viewed as problematic for economic and political development. This article argues that different types of social diversity have differential effects on regime type. Specifically, ethno-linguistic diversity increases prospects for democracy while religious diversity decreases prospects for democracy. The article presents a variety of reasons why diversity might have divergent causal effects on regime type. Cross-national regressions in a variety of econometric formats – including instrumental variables – provide corroborating evidence for the argument.

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Cited by

• Multiculturalism [wikipedia]

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• Electoral Systems, Ethnic Heterogeneity and Party System Fragmentation
• Demographic Diversity and District-Level Party Systems