An Analysis of Transition to Democracy: An Integrative Approach

Abstract

The global expansion of democracy poses a fascinating challenge for social scientists and policymakers. Research on democratization has become increasingly sophisticated during the last two decades. This article reviews several of the most prominent theoretical approaches of democratization and briefly considers the evidence supporting and challenging them. Through theoretical arguments and dialogue between different approaches, this paper proposes “funnel of causality” as a synthesis of prevailing theories of democratization. Finally, the essay tries to adapt game theory to outline the interplay between framing the transition context and the reflexive structuration through the funnel, as well as to shape the choices, behaviors, and decisions of political leaders and groups according to strategies in games