allen hicken
University of Michigan, Political Science, Department Member
In the wake of the Cold War, democracy has gained the status of a mantra. 1 Perhaps no concept is as central to policymakers and scholars. 2 Yet, there is no consensus about how to measure democracy such that meaningful comparisons can be... more
In the wake of the Cold War, democracy has gained the status of a mantra. 1 Perhaps no concept is as central to policymakers and scholars. 2 Yet, there is no consensus about how to measure democracy such that meaningful comparisons can be made through time and across countries. Skeptics wonder if such comparisons are possible at all. While this conclusion may seem compelling, one must also consider the costs of not comparing in a systematic fashion. Without some way of analyzing the level of democracy through time ...
In the wake of the ColdWar, democracy has gained the status of a mantra. Yet there is no consensus about how to conceptualize and measure regimes such that meaningful comparisons can be made through time and across countries. In this... more
In the wake of the ColdWar, democracy has gained the status of a mantra. Yet there is no consensus about how to conceptualize and measure regimes such that meaningful comparisons can be made through time and across countries. In this prescriptive article, we argue for a new approach to conceptualization and measurement. We first review some of the weaknesses among traditional approaches. We then lay out our approach, which may be characterized as historical, multidimensional, disaggregated, and transparent.We end by reviewing some of the payoffs such an approach might bring to the study of democracy.
Research Interests:
... 2009. Building Party Systems in Developing Democracies. New York: Cambridge University Press. Hicken, Allen, and Joel Sawat Selway. ... 2549 (2006). Khabuan Kanbrachachon King Samretruub kap Kandawsuu phua Prachatipatai baab Pingping.... more
... 2009. Building Party Systems in Developing Democracies. New York: Cambridge University Press. Hicken, Allen, and Joel Sawat Selway. ... 2549 (2006). Khabuan Kanbrachachon King Samretruub kap Kandawsuu phua Prachatipatai baab Pingping. Fah Diaw Kan 4 (2): 166–86. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In this article, we seek to rectify the absence of political analysis characterizing most literature on innovation and development. Although existing research is careful to note the lack of any single recipe or model of innovation, most... more
In this article, we seek to rectify the absence of political analysis characterizing most literature on innovation and development. Although existing research is careful to note the lack of any single recipe or model of innovation, most scholars identify a range of institutions and policies influencing innovative performance. But such explanations beg the question of where institutions, so critical to policy implementation, actually come from. We argue that the answer lies in (1) the desire of political leaders to promote innovation and related institutions, and (2) the structure of political arrangements—especially the number of actors with the power and interest to block or promote reform—through which leaders must operate. We argue that both of these variables are strongly influenced by the threats facing leaders and the resources available to address such threats.