ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, two research hypotheses on the conditions of democracy were tested by empirical data covering most independent states of the period 1850-1993. It was found that the major explanatory factor of this study, the distribution of power resources, explained about 66 per cent of the variation in the degree of democracy in the total comparison group of 1,139 decennial observation units. The hypothesized relationship between the level of democracy and the distribution of economic, intellectual and other power resources seems to be very strong and persistent, although it is not complete and leaves room for other factors. I have attempted to explore to what extent the variation in the level of democracy can be explained by one explanatory factor indicating the degree of resource distribution because the finding of a constant relationship could provide a solid basis for predictions.
