Support for Democracy and Economic Liberalism: Evidence from the South Caucasus

• In Event: From Pluralism to Polarization: Public Opinion and Policy Preferences

Abstract

What is the relationship between support for democracy and economic liberalism? Previous studies have focused on the economic interests of ruling elites and their willingness to expand political rights. This paper investigates the relationship between support for democracy and economic liberalism at the individual level in three post-Communist countries of the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. I argue that individuals expressing support for economic liberalism will be on average more supportive of democracy. At the same time, the issue of income redistribution will be the qualifying factor that will reduce the economic liberals' appetite for democracy. The reason for this complex relationship between support for democracy and economic liberalism is encapsulated in the social background of the respondents. Economic liberals benefit from the democratic rule which allows them to have some control over government affairs. They are also opposed to redistribution and by extension to an overly strong state because it threatens their relatively high social status. These effects are likely to manifest themselves in the post-Communist environment more because the socio-economic divisions are especially new. The variation in the regime types and other social factors in the South Caucasian countries helps to elucidate the complex relationship between democracy and economic liberalism.

Author

• Valery Dzutsati, University of Kansas