ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a conceptualization of the variables of size and democracy, and an overview of the case study literature on microstates based on the four sub-dimensions of democracy. It describes the findings of the case study literature result in the presentation of the theoretical model and accompanying expectations for this analysis on the basis of theoretical literature. The chapter discusses the research design, and pays attention to cross-case analysis in line with the method of agreement, case selection, and within-case analysis on the basis of field work and semi-structured interviews with local respondents. It also deals with various issues that relate to the selection of cases for in-depth analyses, and explains and justifies the selection of four microstates for qualitative analysis. The chapter makes use of Dahl's conceptualization of democracy as outlined in his landmark work Polyarchy.
