Why are large-scale participatory institutions implemented in some countries but only adopted on paper in others? I argue that nationwide implementation of Binding Participatory Institutions (BPIs)-a critical subtype of participatory institutions-is dependent on the backing of a strong institutional supporter, often a political party. In turn, parties will only implement BPIs if they place a lower value on the political costs than on the potential benefits of implementation. This will be true if: 1) significant societal demand exists for BPI implementation and 2) the party's political opponents cannot take advantage of BPIs for their own gain. I test this theory through two detailed case studies of Venezuela and Ecuador, drawing on 165 interviews with key national-level actors and grassroots activists.
CITATION STYLE
Abbott, J. (2021). When Participation Wins Votes: Explaining the Emergence of Large-Scale Participatory Democracy. Comparative Politics, 54(1), 97–122. https://doi.org/10.5129/001041521x16118708793032
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