Peaceful and Violent Origins of Voting Rights

The Great Reform Act of 1832 was a pivotal moment in British political development that opened the door of democratic reform, entailing a slow and gradual journey to universal suffrage, secret ballot, and competitive elections. But it could have failed.

In Peaceful and Violent Origins of Voting Rights, Toke S. Aidt and Raphaël Franck articulate a new process-based perspective on the study of democratization through a detailed analysis of the Great Reform Act of 1832. Instead of using the historical narrative to provide evidence of a particular theory, the authors use microdata generated by the reform to test competing theories. Aidt and Franck apply their approach to the Reform Bill through econometric analyses that draw on rich micro-political data to show why the reform succeeded despite significant opposition at three different stages: in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as winning popular support in a general election. While fears of revolution were critical in generating popular support for the Reform Bill in the 1831 General Election, they argue that it was mainly extra-parliamentary agitation from reform societies that helped the bill obtain its one-vote majority in the House of Commons.

By viewing democratic reform as a process rather than as a single event, the authors provide more nuanced answers to what caused the West to extend the franchise. Further, the book presents new insights into the underlying forces of democratisation processes.

At a time when democratic institutions are in danger all around the world, it is more essential to understand how these institutions emerged and evolved. This excellent book provides an invaluable perspective on this question by presenting a comprehensive study of the process of democratization around the Great Reform Act of 1832 in Britain. It convincingly shows how the threat of revolution and social unrest were the key driving forces but also that at critical points the process needed help from elites that were willing to accommodate demands and seek compromise. This is a must-read for all interested in the origins of democracy and those concerned about the state of politics today.

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