Understanding Democracy: The Origins of Democratic Conceptualization

• In Event: Toward a Spacious Comparative Politics: Knowledge Production & Outsiders Within

Abstract

In the context of global democratic erosion and autocratic expansion, a growing body of literature demonstrates that support for democratic governance -- and conversely, support for candidates who espouse autocratic policies or behavior -- is in large part contingent upon how people conceptualize democracy. This begs the following questions: How do people form their beliefs about essential features of democracy? What individual and contextual variables influence democratic conceptualization and, consequently, individual support for democratic ideals? We address these questions using a mixed-methods approach that draws on a combination of cross-national survey data and cognitive interviews from three countries with varying experiences with democratization and autocratization. We evaluate the relative impact of individual- and country-level factors on both the content and complexity of democratic understanding and conceptualization. By doing so, we can better understand how people around the globe understand democracy and the impact of that knowledge on democratic support at the ballot box and beyond.

Authors

• Margaret Hanson, Arizona State University

• Hannah S Chapman, University of Oklahoma

• Valery Dzutsati, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• Paul Armstrong DeBell, Fort Lewis College