Does Globalization Reduce or Enhance Democracy? A Micro Analysis Based on an 18 Country Cross-National Asia-Europe Survey

Abstract

Does globalization have a positive or negative impact on democracy? One reason this problem has gone unsolved is found in the fact that most studies to date have not made systematic use of empirical data to test propositions concerning the relationship between globalization and democracy. While there have been studies that have made a pioneering systematic contribution through the use of macroeconomic and other aggregate statistics, this article empirically examines whether globalization enhances or constrains democracy by using cross-national survey data collected in 17 countries (the Asia-Europe Survey). Our empirical testing has shown that globalization tends to be positively correlated to democratic activism at the individual level, suggesting the possibility that experiences of globalization strengthen democracy.

Social Values on International Relationships in the Asia-Pacific Region

“…Thus, few studies on foreign policy have focused on the public, especially in crossnational analyses, although policies of a democratic country, even those on foreign policy, may be expected to reflect values held by the public. Nevertheless, few studies have been based on data from social surveys (public opinion polls) (e.g., Chang & Park [2007] and Inoguchi et al [2008] for analyses of social survey data on domestic politics in the AsiaPacific region). As an exception, one can name studies on trade policy using survey data such as the ISSP Survey and World Value Survey (e.g., Mayda & Rodrik 2005;Beaulieu 2002;Gabel 1998;Baker 2003;Hainmueller & Hiscox 2006).…”

“…Secondly, in past studies on international politics that analyzed survey data, the main concern was with variations within countries rather than between countries (Inoguchi et al, 2008). In order to understand nations' foreign policies, however, we must investigate variations among countries as well as within countries.…”