Democracy with Adjectives: Conceptual Innovation in Comparative Research

摘要: The recent trend toward democratization in countries across the globe has challenged scholars to pursue two potentially contradictory goals. On the one hand, they seek increase analytic differentiation order capture diverse forms of democracy that have emerged. other are concerned with conceptual validity. Specifically, avoid problem of stretching arises when concept is applied cases for which, by relevant scholarly standards, it not appropriate. This article argues pursuit these goals led a proliferation conceptual innovations, including numerous subtypes democracy--that to say, "with adjectives." explores strengths and weaknesses alternative strategies innovation emerged: descending climbing Sartori's ladder generality, generating "diminished" democracy, "precising" definition adding defining attributes, shifting overarching concept which associated. goal analysis make more comprehensible complex structure strategies, as well explore trade-offs among strategies. Even scholars proceed intuitively, rather than self-consciously, tend operate within this structure. Yet far more desirable them do so full awareness trade-offs.