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Cited by 237Political Conflict and GovernanceCulture, Economy, and Development StudiesPolitical Theory and Democracy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 80 of the 80 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Legacy of Western Overseas Colonialism on Democratic Survival

Bernhard, Michael, Reenock, Christopher, Nordstrom, Timothy·2004·International Studies Quarterly
DOI 10.1111/j.0020-8833.2004.00298.x
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Abstract

Using an original dataset that covers the period from 1951 to 1995, we consider the enduring effects of Western overseas colonialism on the democratic survival of postcolonial democracies. We treat colonialism as a holistic phenomenon and differentiate the relative effects of its legacies with regard to the level of economic development, social fragmentation, and the relationship between the state and civil society. We find that Western overseas colonialism, a factor often overlooked in recent large-n studies, continues to have an effect on the survival of democratic regimes. We further find that the legacy of specific colonial powers has an important effect on survival as well. Unlike previous studies, we find that former Spanish colonies outperform British colonies when colonialism is conceptualized holistically. However, when we break colonial legacy into separate components (development, social fragmentation, and the relationship between the state and civil society), we find that the advantages former British colonies enjoy are attributable to the legacy of the state/civil society relationship. Moreover, we show that at least in the case of former British colonies, time spent under colonial rule is positively associated with democratic survival.

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Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. Bollen K. A., 1983, American Sociology Review, 48, 572
  2. Brown J. M., 1999, The Oxford History of the British Empire, 703
  3. Cell J. W., 1999, The Oxford History of the British Empire, vol. 4: The Twentieth Century, 232
  4. Chirot D., 1996, Modern Tyrants
  5. Dahl R., 1971, Polyarchy
  6. Easterly W., 2001, Global Development Network Database
  7. Kasifir N., 1983, In Local Government in the Third World
  8. Nohlen D., 1993, Enciclopedia Electoral Latinoamericana y del Caribe
  9. Tomlinson B. R., 1999, The Oxford History of the British Empire, 357
  10. Wiseman J. A., 1990, Democracy in Black Africa

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Metadata

Authors
Bernhard, M., Reenock, C., & Nordstrom, T.
Affiliations
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
  • University of Mississippi (US)
ORCID
Venue
International Studies Quarterly
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2004-03
Volume
48
Issue
1
Pages
225-250
ISSN
  • 0020-8833 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-2478
DOI
10.1111/j.0020-8833.2004.00298.x
OpenAlex
W2008749442
Cited by
237
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 13
FWCI
10.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1 (tdm, 4201 d)
Locations
International Studies Quarterly (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
  • Social Sciences › Development › Culture, Economy, and Development Studies
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
Keywords
colonial legacy, democratic survival, postcolonial democracy, Western colonialism, state-civil society relations, social fragmentation, economic development, British colonies, Spanish colonies, regime durability

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