The Democratic Domino Theory: An Empirical Investigation

American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 53, No. 3, 2009

Posted: 23 Jul 2007 Last revised: 6 Oct 2009

See all articles by Peter T. Leeson

Peter T. Leeson

George Mason University - Department of Economics; George Mason University - Mercatus Center

Andrea M. Dean

West Virginia University - College of Business & Economics

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

According to the democratic domino theory, increases or decreases in democracy in one country spread and “infect” neighboring countries, increasing or decreasing their democracy in turn. Using spatial econometrics and panel data that covers over 130 countries between 1850 and 2000, this paper empirically investigates the democratic domino theory. We find that democratic dominoes do in fact fall as the theory contends. However, these dominoes fall significantly “lighter” than the importance of this model suggests. Countries “catch” only about 11 percent of the increases or decreases in their average geographic neighbors’ increases or decreases in democracy. This finding has potentially important foreign policy implications. The “lightness” with which democratic dominoes fall suggests that even if foreign military intervention aimed at promoting democracy in undemocratic countries succeeds in democratizing these nations, intervention is likely to have a only a small effect on democracy in their broader regions.

Suggested Citation

Leeson, Peter T. and Dean, Andrea M., The Democratic Domino Theory: An Empirical Investigation (2009). American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 53, No. 3, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1002262

Peter T. Leeson (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.peterleeson.com

George Mason University - Mercatus Center ( email )

3434 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
United States

HOME PAGE: http://ppe.mercatus.org/scholars/peter-leeson

Andrea M. Dean

West Virginia University - College of Business & Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 6025
Morgantown, WV 26506
United States

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