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Revisiting the Origins of Democratic Quality in Italy

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  • Frederick Solt

Abstract

What determines the responsiveness and effectiveness of democratic governments in meeting their citizens needs? Based on his 1993 study of the twenty Italian regions, Robert Putnam argued that civic community, a self-reinforcing syndrome of social engagement and political participation, is the explanation. A re-examination of Putnams data reveals little evidence of such a syndrome, but confirms that where more citizens participate in politics outside of networks of clientelistic exchange, more effective democratic government results. To discern the causes of variation in this self-motivated political participation, I then test Putnams measures of social engagement against aspects of Italian socio-economic structure. Economic development and the historical distribution of land, not social engagement, are found to be powerful predictors of selfmotivated political participation and in turn democratic quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederick Solt, 2002. "Revisiting the Origins of Democratic Quality in Italy," LIS Working papers 340, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:340
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    3. Filippo Sabetti, 1996. "Path Dependency and Civic Culture: Some Lessons from Italy about Interpreting Social Experiments," Politics & Society, , vol. 24(1), pages 19-44, March.
    4. Tarrow, Sidney, 1996. "Making Social Science Work Across Space and Time: A Critical Reflection on Robert Putnam's Making Democracy Work," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 90(2), pages 389-397, June.
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