Narrowing the Legitimacy Gap: Turnovers as a Cause of Democratic Consolidation

Journal of Politics, Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 1448-1466, 2009

19 Pages Posted: 23 Jan 2011

See all articles by Staffan I. Lindberg

Staffan I. Lindberg

University of Gothenburg - Varieties of Democracy Institute; University of Gothenburg - Department of Political Science

Devra Coren Moehler

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: October 2009

Abstract

Democratic consolidation depends on common perceptions of institutional legitimacy among citizens aligned with governing and opposition parties. Elections always result in winners and losers, but if they also create subservient insiders and aggrieved outsiders, the future of the democratic system will be uncertain. This article theorizes about why certain electoral qualities (elections that produce turnovers, are peaceful, accepted by opposition parties, and free and fair) should reduce winner-loser gaps in perceived institutional legitimacy. The hypotheses are tested using a hierarchical two-step statistical procedure to analyze three rounds of Afrobarometer microlevel data combined with national-level data on African elections between 1989 and 2006. The analyses indicate that electoral turnovers (and only turnovers) have a significant moderating effect on the citizenry. Following alternations of power, winners and losers converge in their attitudes about their institutions, thus furthering the consolidation of democracy.

Keywords: turnover, democracy, democratic consolidation, democratization, elections, public opinion

JEL Classification: O10

Suggested Citation

Lindberg, Staffan I. and Moehler, Devra Coren, Narrowing the Legitimacy Gap: Turnovers as a Cause of Democratic Consolidation (October 2009). Journal of Politics, Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 1448-1466, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1744035

Staffan I. Lindberg (Contact Author)

University of Gothenburg - Varieties of Democracy Institute ( email )

Sprängkullsgatan 19
Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30
Sweden

HOME PAGE: http://v-dem.net

University of Gothenburg - Department of Political Science ( email )

Box 711
Gothenburg, S-405 30
Sweden

HOME PAGE: http://www.pol.gu.se

Devra Coren Moehler

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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