The Failure of Democratic Nation Building: Ideology Meets Evolution

by Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson

Book Overview

Throughout history authoritarian governments have outnumbered democratic ones to an overwhelming degree. Even today, true democracies are an exception. In this book, Somit and Peterson argue that the main reason for this pattern is that humans are social primates with an innate tendency for hierarchical and authoritarian social and political structures. Democracy requires very special 'enabling conditions' before it can be supported by a state, conditions...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0230621120
• ISBN13: 9780230621121
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"