About this Research Topic
In this vein, this Research Topic sheds light on the concepts, qualities and practices as well as the chances and risks of Non-Western democracies. This approach enables interactions between (application-oriented) theoretical considerations and (theory-based) comparative analyses or case studies including the potential to reveal both differences as well as similarities between Western and Non-Western democratic regimes. Proceeding from this, the issue focuses on five major areas of research on Non-Western democracies (including their relationship to Western counterparts):
– Case studies on Non-Western democracies
– Historical, theoretical and cultural influences on Non-Western democracies
– Problem-solving capacities of Non-Western democracies
– Inclusion of Non-Western democracy concepts and practices in political theory (e.g. from comparative democratic theory or the decolonisation of political theory)
– (Re-)Evaluation of theoretical concepts and the established methods of measuring democracy (e.g. V-Dem, BTI, Freedom House, Vanhanen-Index).
Accordingly, this Research Topic will contribute to the growing academic and political debate on the explanatory power and legitimacy of Non-Western theories and practices of democracy. Hence, it aims to deepen the understanding of the theoretical and empirical complexity of Non-Western democracies, to integrate Non-Western ideas into relevant discussions on democratic theory, and to sharpen the analytical distinction between Non-Western and Western democracies. Consequently, it will contribute to the understanding of current democratic development as such.
Original research, hypotheses and theory, conceptual analyses, data reports or new perspectives in all these five areas are welcome.
Keywords: democracy, democratisation, autocracy, non-western democracy, democratic theory, democratic development
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.