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Power sharing with weak institutions ∗

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  • Robert Powell

Abstract

Democratic transitions, franchise extensions, and civil war settlements can often be seen as power-sharing agreements in which opposing factions try to use institutional structures to ‘lock in’ the terms of a settlement. But the commitment power inherent in institutions varies. When the institutional environment is weak and credibility is low, it is difficult for a powerful elite to tie its hands and give up power. This article studies a window-of-opportunity model in which an enfranchised elite faces a periodic threat. Institutional weakness is parameterized in terms of the elite’s marginal return to trying to undermine a power-sharing agreement. The analysis shows that (i) bargaining breaks down if the overall institutional environment is too weak and why it does; (ii) equilibrium agreements share more power with the opposition when the institutional environment is weak; (iii) there is a non-monotonic relation between power sharing and how often the opposition poses a threat; and (iv) power sharing is path dependent.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Powell, 2024. "Power sharing with weak institutions ∗," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 36(2), pages 186-211, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:36:y:2024:i:2:p:186-211
    DOI: 10.1177/09516298241232655
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jack Paine, 2024. "A comment on Powell and formal models of power sharing ," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 36(2), pages 212-233, April.

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