POLSC 135 1st Edition Lecture 22Outline of Last Lecture: Classical Cultural ArgumentsOutline of Current Lecture: Classical Cultural Arguments (Cont) Current Lecture:I. Religion and Democracy - Despite the claim that Islam requires an Islamic state, it should be notes that, with the exception of Iran since 1979 and and Afghanistan under the Taliban, there have been few historical precedents for Mullas or religious leaders controlling political power in Islamic countries. - We know that Protestant and Catholic countries are likely to be democratic and that Muslim countries are likely to be dictatorships today. - The Catholic Hypothesis: Countries with a majority catholic population are less likely to become and stay a democracy- The Protestant Hypothesis: Countries with a majority protestant population are more likely to become and stay democratic. - The Islam hypothesis: Countries with a majority Islamic population are less likely to become and stay a democracy- Ethnic Group Hypothesis: Countries with a large number of ethnic groups are lesslikely to become and stay democratic. - Religious group hypothesis: Countries with a large number of religious groups areless likely to become and stay democratic.- Cultural Group hypothesis: Countries with a large number of cultural groups are less likely to become and stay democratic.- Emergence of Democracy- Increased wealth makes transitions to democracy more likely- High economic growth makes transitions to democracy less likely - Countries that are predominately Catholic are more likely to become democracies - Having a protestant or Muslim majority has no effect on whether a country becomes democratic or not. These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. It is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Survival of Democracy- Increased wealth helps democratic survival - High economic growth helps democratic survival - Having a Muslim majority does not harm democratic survival - Having a protestant majority is good for democratic survival - Having a catholic majority is bad for democratic survival End
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