Determinants of lasting democracy in poor countries: Culture, development,and institutions

This article presents a statistical study of the determinants of democracy in the postwar period. Important variables are found to be former status as a British colony, island status, the share of the population professing Is lam, the share of the population that is of European descent, penetration o f the English language during British colonial rule, and a measure of ethni c homogeneity. The evidence suggests that cultural beliefs and institutiona l inheritances are important determinants of the viability of democracy in poor countries, even when-controlling for literacy and socioeconomic develo pment.