Write an essay on the following topic:
Are norms and values more important in determining how a given political system looks
and functions or are institutions and incentives more important? Explain why with
reference to 1-3 concrete examples. Be sure to describe how your choice of explanation
Overall, focus on making a clearly stated and well-supported argument. Be creative and read
widely! Don’t worry about being “right” so much as making your case in a clear, reasoned
manner. Don’t try to do too much or argue too much—stay focused and concise. Good essays must have a clear thesis statement in the
introduction section and a well-organized structure of the body of the essay to support your
argument. Your thoughts and analysis are important, not summarization of the readings. Essays
should use good grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Please use English-language spellcheck.
Readings to cite from:
1.ORIGIN OF STATE: How are economic growth, inequality, and political power related? Where do states come
from?
Required readings
• Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2009). “How development leads to democracy: What we
know about modernization.” Foreign Affairs, 33-48.
• Gianfranco Poggi. “The Nation-State”, in Daniele Caramani (Ed.). Comparative
Politics (1st edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press: Chapter 4.
• Graeber, David, and David Wengrow. The dawn of everything: A new history of
humanity. Penguin UK, 2021. Chapter 1. [You can skim over parts of this, especially
those that go deeper into anthropology. Try to get the overall flavor of the argument.]
Very recommended reading
• Tilly, Charles. (1982). “War making and state making as organized crime.” CRSO
Working Paper No. 256.
Recommended readings
• Riedl, Rachel Beatty, Dan Slater, Joseph Wong, and Daniel Ziblatt. “Authoritarian-led
democratization.” Annual Review of Political Science 23 (2020): 315-332.
• Paxton, Pamela. “Women’s suffrage in the measurement of democracy: Problems of
operationalization.” Studies in Comparative International Development 35, no. 3 (2000):
92-111.
• Acemoglu, D., Johnson, S., Robinson, J. A., & Yared, P. (2009). “Reevaluating the
modernization hypothesis.” Journal of Monetary Economics, 56(8), 1043-1058.
• Acemoglu, Daron, and James Robinson. (2000). “Why did the West extend the franchise?
Democracy, inequality, and growth in historical perspective.” The Quarterly Journal of
Economics 115.4: 1167-1199.
• Przeworski, Adam, and Fernando Limongi. 1997. “Modernization: Theories and Facts.”
World Politics 49(1): 155-93.
• Cheibub, Jose Antonio et al. 1996. ‘What makes democracies endure?’ Journal of
Democracy 7(1): 39-55.
• Lipset, Seymour Martin. 1981. Political Man: The Social Bases of Politics. Baltimore:
Johns Hopkins University Press: Chapter 2.
• Przeworski, Adam, and Fernando Limongi. 1993. ‘Political Regimes and Economic
Growth.’ Journal of Economic Perspectives 7(3): 51-69.
2. POLITICAL CULTURE: Are some cultures just better suited to democracy than others?
Required readings
Required readings
• Svante Errson and Jan-Erik Lane. “Political Culture”, in Daniele Caramani (Ed.).
Comparative Politics (1st edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press: Chapter 17.
• Jackman, R. W., & Miller, R. A. (1998). “Social capital and politics.” Annual review of
political science, 1(1), 47-73.
• Putnam, Robert. 1993. Making Democracy Work: Civic Tradition in Modern Italy.
Princeton: Princeton University Press. Chapters 1 and 6.
Recommended readings
• Inglehart, Ronald and Marita Carballo. 1997. ‘Does Latin America Exist? (And is There a
Confucian Culture?): A Global Analysis of Cross-Cultural Differences.’ PS: Political
Science and Politics 30(1): 34-46.
• Collier, P. (2017). “Culture, Politics, and Economic Development.” Annual Review of
Political Science, 20, 111-125.
• Harrison, Lawrence E. and Samuel P. Huntington (eds.) Culture Matters: How Values
Shape Human Progress. Basic Books: New York, NY: Chapter 9.
• Johnson, J. (2003). Conceptual problems as obstacles to progress in political science:
Four decades of political culture research. Journal of Theoretical Politics, 15 (1), 87-115.
• Putnam, Robert. 1995. ‘Bowling Alone.’ Journal of Democracy 6(1): 65-78
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