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Erik Bengtsson . Photo

Erik Bengtsson

Deputy head of the Department of Economic History, Senior lecturer

Erik Bengtsson . Photo

The Social Origins of Democracy and Authoritarianism Reconsidered: Prussia and Sweden in Comparison

Author

  • Erik Bengtsson
  • Felix Kersting

Summary, in English

In a large social science literature, unequal rural class structures (“landlordism”) are associated with authoritarian political outcomes. This paper revisits the debate, focus- ing on the landlords’ ideological domination of the lower classes and anti-democratic attitudes in estate-dominated areas. We contrast the authoritarian landlordism model with a perspective where inequality fosters leftist mobilization if landlords fail to assert hegemony. Analyzing Prussia and Sweden–often seen as opposites in terms of their ru- ral class structures–we challenge the view of Sweden as egalitarian, showing its agrarian inequality was similar to Prussia’s. Examining within-country correlations between land inequality and electoral support for Conservatives, Nazis, and voter turnout, we find no evidence supporting the authoritarian landlordism model. Instead, our results empha- size the role of popular mobilization in Sweden and landlords’ weakening influence in Prussia.

Department/s

  • Department of Economic History

Publishing year

2025-06

Language

English

Publication/Series

Comparative Political Studies

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Political Science
  • History

Status

Epub

Project

  • The Swedish transition to equality: income inequality with new micro data, 1862–1970

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1552-3829