ABSTRACT
How strong is the evidence supporting power sharing theory? This is a crucial question in two respects. First, a theory can only be regarded as a
valid empirical theory if its propositions are in accordance with the facts,
and if empirical tests are able to confirm their accuracy. Second, power
sharing theory is not only an empirical but also a prescriptive theory: it
recommends consensus democracy to any country that aims at establishing
a democratic system of government or that wants to change its form of
democracy, and it recommends consociationalism for deeply divided coun-
tries. Such policy advice based on power sharing theory is justified only if we can be reasonably sure that the underlying theory is valid.
