Popular Politics and the Path to Durable Democracy

"A groundbreaking sociological analysis of democratic consolidation. . . . [and] a stellar example of comparative historical analysis that builds on original data and rich case studies."—Sefika Kumral, Social Forces

“In this timely and necessary book, Kadivar demonstrates that mass unarmed protests alone are not enough to bring about democratic change. Instead, mass mobilization needs to be durable over time—a task that requires developing resilient organizations that build collective identity, democratic norms, leadership, and institutional power. In the current age of global democratic recession, this is a powerful, must-read book for scholars and activists alike.”—Erica Chenoweth, Harvard University

“Popular Politics and the Path to Durable Democracy is, quite simply, the definitive study of democratic consolidation. Drawing on an original historical dataset and rich case studies, Kadivar shows that transitions driven by prolonged, nonviolent, contentious mobilization produce the most robust democracies. With its powerful arguments about how civil societies and organizational structures shape struggles for democracy, this book is indispensable reading for all those who care about democracy.”—Patrick Heller, Brown University

“A compelling and superbly crafted book that will significantly reshape how we think about the conditions most favorable to democratic stability. Kadivar persuasively argues that new democracies based on popular mobilizations from below are more likely to survive than those that emerge from other pathways of change.”—Robert M. Fishman, author of Democratic Practice: Origins of the Iberian Divide in Political Inclusion