Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Discussion Papers on Economics,
University of Southern Denmark, Department of Economics

No 7/2010: Workers of the world, unite! Franchise extensions and the threat of revolution in Europe, 1820-1938

Toke S. Aidt () and Peter S. Jensen ()
Additional contact information
Toke S. Aidt: Faculty of Economics, Postal: University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9DD, United Kingdom
Peter S. Jensen: Department of Business and Economics, Postal: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Abstract: This paper tests the hypothesis that the extension of the voting franchise was caused by the threat of revolution, as suggested by Acemoglu and Robinson (2000). We approximate the threat of revolution in a given country by revolutionary events happening in neighboring countries. We investigate the relationship between this new measure of the threat of revolution and measures of suffrage reform in two samples of European countries covering the period from 1820 to 1938. We find strong support for the ‘threat of revolution theory’. We also find some evidence that war triggered suffrage reform, whereas ‘modernization theory’ receives little support.

Keywords: The extension of the voting franchise; democracy; threat of revolution; suffrage

JEL-codes: D70; P16

50 pages, October 18, 2010

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