Most of the comparative research on the relationship between economic development and political participation has been cross national, comparing data on different countries. Some countries are more democratic than others, on the basis of such characteristics as contested elections, an elected head of state, an elected powerful legislature, and the protection of civil liberties.
In capitalist countries, more democracy is generally associated with higher levels of economic development, as measured by indicators such as per capita output. In countries that are not very industrialized there is little democracy at the national level. Why should more democracy be associated with more economic development?
The prevailing opinion is that economic development increases the degree of social equality in the country; and the more equality among interest groups, the more they demand participation in the political process, and hence more democracy. Or, to put this theory another way, as the economy develops, the more the middle and working classes can demand rewards and power, and therefore the less power the elite can retain.
What about the societies usually studied by anthropologists? We know that some of the highest levels of political participation occur in the least complex societies, such as foraging societies. Many adults in such societies have a say in the political decisions and leadership is informal. Leaders can retain their roles only if people voluntarily go along with them. Concentrated power and less political participation are more likely in chiefdoms and states than in band and tribal societies.
The more heirarchical chiefdoms and societies usually depend on agriculture, which can produce more goods and services per capita than foraging economics can. So the relationship between economic development and political participation in the cross-cultural studies is opposite to what we find cross- nationally.
Which of the following is the characteristic of more democratic countries?
