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The Social Origins of Democracy and Authoritarianism Reconsidered: Prussia and Sweden in Comparison

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  • Bengtsson, Erik
  • Kersting, Felix

Abstract

In a large social science literature, unequal rural class structures ("landlordism") are associated with authoritarian political outcomes. This paper revisits the debate focusing on the electoral consequences of land inequality in Prussia, the locus classicus of the pernicious effects of landlordism, and Sweden, often perceived as Prussia’s opposite, with a farmer-dominated social structure and stable democratization. Investigating the late 19th and early 20th century, we show that agrarian inequality was higher in Sweden than in Prussia, already putting the theory of a landlordism-authoritarianism connection in question. In contrast to the existing hypothesis, our within country-analysis indicates no positive correlation between land inequality and electoral support for the Conservative and Nazi parties and a positive correlation with turnout. We discuss social mobilization and declining social control of the landed elites as mediating institutional factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Bengtsson, Erik & Kersting, Felix, 2024. "The Social Origins of Democracy and Authoritarianism Reconsidered: Prussia and Sweden in Comparison," OSF Preprints 2jgq8, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:2jgq8
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/2jgq8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cinnirella, Francesco & Hornung, Erik, 2016. "Landownership concentration and the expansion of education," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 135-152.
    2. King, Gary & Rosen, Ori & Tanner, Martin & Wagner, Alexander F., 2008. "Ordinary Economic Voting Behavior in the Extraordinary Election of Adolf Hitler," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 68(4), pages 951-996, December.
    3. Eddie, Scott M., 2008. "Landownership in Eastern Germany Before the Great War: A Quantitative Analysis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198201663.
    4. Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson, 2001. "A Theory of Political Transitions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(4), pages 938-963, September.
    5. Ansell,Ben W. & Samuels,David J., 2014. "Inequality and Democratization," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107000360, November.
    6. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226731445 is not listed on IDEAS
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