Democratic Elections and Social Cleavages: Democratic Transitions in East Asian States, Regional Politics and Political Outcomes

    Abstract: There is a high level of correlation between social cleavages in East Asian states undergoing democratic transitions and the type of democratic institutions found in such states. Where economic development is uneven, where the wealth gap is large, where national identity is weak, and where there is no mature electoral culture, political forces and social groups participating in elections trend towards viewing voting and electoral activities as opportunities to enhance personal benefits at the expense of other actors, causing contradictions and conflicts between them to spiral out of control.