Social and Partisan Cleavages and the Demand and Supply of Democracy

This study investigates the relationship between social and partisan cleavages and the demand and supply of democracy. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, it argues that social heterogeneity is not inherently detrimental to democracy. Instead, the impact of social diversity is mediated by the composition of ethnic and social groups, which influences the intensity of electoral competition. While highly homogeneous and heterogeneous societies tend to have higher satisfaction with democracy, societies with an approximately even distribution of groups experience intense competition and lower satisfaction. This study utilizes data from the Global Barometer Surveys (2010–2013) across six regions to examine the relationship between preferences and satisfaction with democracy, along with ethnolinguistic, religious, and partisan cleavages. These findings suggest that the composition of cleavages, rather than their mere presence, is the key factor in determining the success of democracy. This study underscores the crucial role of institutional design in managing electoral competition.