ABSTRACT
This chapter defines and operationalizes both democratic quality and general performance, setting them in relation to one another. It differentiates the main research question and proposes the concept of democratic efficacy, assuming that democracy's ability to produce desired and intended climate performances improves concomitantly with increasing levels of democratic quality. The chapter develops mixed methods approach. To answer the question of how democratic quality influences climate performance in established democracies, two basic definitions need to be outlined: democratic quality and general performance. Interdependence between theories of democracy and the development of democratic practice is of crucial importance. Stability is characterized by governmental capability, including constraints on constitutional and executive power, the absence of destabilizing circumstances and the existence of sufficient resources for democratic institutions. A democratic government has to have the capability and autonomy to effectively govern the political process and to implement policies based on democratic procedures.
