All the talk of "power sharing" in Kenya from Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made me curious about where this somewhat un-American sounding theory came from. Apparently, Arend Lijphart, an emeritus Yale and UCSD professor of political science who served as president of the American Political Science Association developed the theories of "consensus democracy" and "consociational" systems (based on the Dutch model) in opposition to Seymour Martin Lipset's theory of modernization--one that that called for supporting authoritarian leaders who could control their societies while preparing them for Westminster-style parliaments. Lijphart set up an election archive at UCSD among other things. His major work, after comparing 27 democracies, argued that the Dutch model was superior to the British or American system of what he characterized as "majoritarian" democracy. He argued that consensus democracy was appropriate for any society. He also advocated compulsory voting, as opposed to voluntary voting. Strange, then, to look up Professor Lijphart on the Federal Elections Commission donor database only to discover that a public advocate of consensus actively participates in America's "majoritarian" system--and only gives to one side. Doesn't look very "consensual" to this reader--rather partisan, and thanks to Nancy Pelosi, "majoritarian" in fact:
LIJPHART, ARENDMemo to Secretary Rice: Why not re-read some Seymour Martin Lipset? Since your are probably very busy, here's his bottom line, via Wikipedia:
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
NONE/RETIRED
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
09/23/2004 500.00 24991273637
10/14/2004 500.00 24981640952
LIJPHART, AREND
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
RETIRED/RETIRED
BUSBY, FRANCINE P
VIA FRANCINE BUSBY FOR CONGRESS
10/12/2006 225.00 26950726282
LIJPHART, AREND
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
UCSD/RESEARCH PROFESSOR EMERITUS
FILNER, BOB
VIA BOB FILNER FOR CONGRESS
08/01/2005 250.00 25971206645
LIJPHART, AREND DR.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
NONE/RETIRED
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
02/18/2005 500.00 25990244213
02/09/2006 500.00 26920028073
LIJPHART, AREND DR.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
RETIRED/RETIRED
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
01/30/2007 500.00 27950080272
LIJPHART, AREND PROFESSOR
SAN DIEGO, CA 92122
RETIRED
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
01/18/2001 250.00 21990322094
04/12/2002 1000.00 22991352683
01/31/2003 1000.00 23990434129
12/24/2003 500.00 24990372533
03/01/2004 500.00 24991146805
Lipset was one of the first proponents of the "theory of modernization", which holds that democracy has a better chance of surviving in countries with a higher socio-economic development.
