ABSTRACT
The erosion of democracy in many Western countries, often described as “democratic deconsolidation,” has led to increased scholarly interest concerning the impact of economic inequality on democracy. Observers of East Asian politics have wrestled with this question: As perceived income inequality in East Asian countries becomes more severe, will it erode support for democracy in the region? Our results are quite unexpected. This article explores how people assess the performance of the democratic system, whether preference for autocracy is rising, and the various factors behind support for democracy among citizens in East Asia. Contrary to the assumptions of many, we found that where there are higher levels of perceived inequality, people have a demonstrably lower preference for autocratic governance. This is especially the case for non-democratic countries in Asia and in countries that have never experienced full liberal democracy. These findings show that perceived inequality makes democracy much more attractive, and authoritarian forms of government much less attractive. Therefore, a higher perception of economic inequality does not in itself appear to erode democratic consolidation or to obstruct further democratization in East Asia.
