Quality of democracy in quadruple helix structures: OECD countries in global comparison

Abstract

The analytical research question of this chapter is threefold: (1) To develop (and to prototype) a conceptual framework of analysis for a global comparison of quality of democracy. This framework also references to the concept of the "Quadruple Helix innovation systems" (created by Carayannis and Campbell and first published in 2009). (2) The same conceptual framework is being used and tested for comparing and measuring empirically quality of democracy in the different OECD and European Union (EU27) member countries. (3) Finally (and based on the international comparison), different propositions and recommendations for an improvement of quality of democracy reform in Austria are being developed and suggested. By this, Austrian democracy qualifies as a case study for democracy enhancement. In theoretical and conceptual terms, we refer to a Quadruple-dimensional structure, also a Quadruple Helix structure (a "Model of Quadruple Helix Structures") of the four basic (conceptual) dimensions of freedom, equality, control, and sustainable development for explaining and comparing democracy and quality of democracy. Put in summary, we may conclude for the United States: the comparative strength of quality of democracy in the United States focuses on the dimension of freedom. The comparative weakness of the quality of democracy in the United States lies in the dimension of equality, most importantly income equality. Quadruple Helix refers here to at least two crucial perspectives: (1) the unfolding of an innovative knowledge economy also requires (at least in a longer perspective) the unfolding of a knowledge democracy and (2) knowledge and innovation are being defined as key for sustainable development and for the further evolution of quality of democracy. How to innovate (and reinvent) knowledge democracy? There is a potential that democracy discourses and innovation discourses advance in a next-step and two-way mutual cross-reference. The architectures of Quadruple Helix (and Quintuple Helix) innovation systems demand and require the formation of a democracy, implicating that quality of democracy provides for a support and encouragement of innovation and innovation systems, so that quality of democracy and progress of innovation mutually "Cross Helix" in a connecting and amplifying mode and manner. This relates research on quality of democracy to research on innovation (innovation systems) and the knowledge economy. "Cyber-democracy" receives here a new and important meaning.