ABSTRACT
As a general rule, does the adoption of a constitutional framework that divides power between two executives appear to advance or hinder democratization? This is an important question that needs further exploration, particularly given the popularity of semi-presidentialism among young democracies. For a full inventory of countries currently having a semi-presidential regime, see Table 1.1 in Chapter 1. Despite the wide adoption of semi-presidentialism, so far the literature on institutional effects on the prospects for democratic consolidation1 has tended to concentrate on the relative merits of parliamentary regimes vis-à-vis presidential regimes. As indicated in Chapter 1, it is only recently that more works have started to appear focusing on the relative merits of semipresidentialism.
