Study On Lipset's Theory Of Correlation Between Economic Development And Democracy

Correlation between economic development and democracy is one most important topic of the democratic theory researches. Many scholars spend a lot of time and energy studying and interpreting the economic and democratic practice in their era, with different knowledge and approaches. And Seymour Martin Lipset, an American scholar, is one of them. He proposed a theory of correlation between economic development and democracy, caused wide discussions. This paper shows that in some sense, the academic circles for evaluations to Lipset's theory are comparative pertinent. However, there are also the possibilities of simply understanding about its conclusion. Therefore, this paper attempts to reinterpret Lipset's theory in its logical deduction for clues and analyze its significance and the possible defects, which helps us understand the academic value and practical significance of Lipset's theoryThis article mainly includes four parts, introduction and conclusion excluded.The first part introduces the academic background of Lipset's theory from three aspects. The rise of political development theory provides a broad perspective and abundant research materials. Behaviorism theory provides series of powerful research tools, pushing forward the research paradigm shift from normative research to empirical research. Besides, Lipset put forward the theory early when he did the research about the social requisites of democracy.The second part analyzes the starting points of the theory's logic. Hypothesis of political man is the recognition of human nature when we do political researches. And the definition of the core concepts distinguishes the scope of the research objects. The above two together constitute the logic starting points of Lipset's theory of correlation between economic development and democracy. At the beginning of the theory, the hypothesis of political man sets up a field for democracy, where the behavior choices of rational human play the important role in the construction of political system and political structure, where economic and political system and the social structure are shaping rational political people so as to prompted them to make wise actions or choices. Distinguish the definition of the core concepts is also Lipset's most important job to do at first. The economic development is defined as economic modernization with some indexes such as wealth, industrialization, urbanization, educational level and so on. The definition of democracy directly cites the point of Schumpeter and Max Weber's views.The third part inspects Lipset's early and latter theories comprehensively, including reasoning process and the theoretical contexts. In his early research, gathered a lot of experience materials, and induced linear related pattern with lots of scientific approaches such as large sample statistic, data sorting and induction. Then he analyzed that the different economic situations could produce different political forms, and what is more, not all the economic situations could promote the generation and stability of democracy. Finally, the conclusion was that economic development in some limited conditions is one necessary conditions of democracy. In the latter research, he analyzed the relationships and phenomena of the curve pattern. It showed the democracy recessions in some countries could not deny the positive correlation between economic development and democracy. The reason was that economic development took out the improvements of national income and distribution, the development of the education level and the increasing of middle class. The more important was that the increasing of people's living conditions and welfare also improved democratic prospects. In his theories, Lipset insisted the conclusion that economic development was one necessary conditions of democracy. In some extent, the latter theory is a kind of inheritance, modification and development to the early research.The fourth part analysis Lipset's theory of correlation between economic development and democracy comprehensively. Lipset has always concerned and engaged in the research of the correlation between economic development and democracy. To a great extent, the academic discussions about the relationships of the economic development and democracy are the exchange of ideas with Lipset. Lipset's conclusion didn't end up the dispute, but has important significance. Lipset's theory provides a multiple perspectives and empirical inquiry modernization theory for the complicated construction of democracy, which enriched the research contents of democratic politics academic studies and expanded the theory modernization theory and political development theory. The scientific approaches play an important role in the political research paradigm shift. Of course, the theory may also have some flaws. Firstly, the correlation research was in a single direction, not the complete two-way analyses. Secondly, the theory got its conclusion in the perspective of the tools theory. However, economic development was not the necessary condition of these intermediary factors. Even if it was true, the research approaches of relying heavily on the intermediary factors analyses are not advisable. Thirdly, Lipset's theory was based on the reality of the democracy and the regular summary, which may lack the criticism of the political reality and the prospective prospects for the future development of world politics.Economic development and democracy has a strong positive correlation, which not represents the economic development in any conditions can promote the emergence and stability of democratic politics. However, material base is necessary for democracy. Democratic theories need innovation, which can not be done without previous research achievements. There is no doubt that there are some defects in Lipset's theory. But the defects provide deep thinking points for the latter scholars, whose theory fulfills the inheritance and beyond of Lipset's theory. That is the academic value of reinterpreting Lipset's theory of correlation between economic development and democracy.