Adam Przeworski

Political Scientist and Theorist of Democracy

Biography

Adam Przeworski (b. 1940) is a renowned Polish-American political scientist, professor at New York University, and one of the leading comparative political theorists of the modern era. His scholarship has shaped our understanding of democracy, authoritarianism, and economic development, with influential works spanning over five decades.

Main Ideas

• Democratic Survival and Economic DevelopmentPrzeworski famously argued that while democracy can emerge in poor countries, its survival strongly correlates with a certain level of economic development—sometimes called the “Przeworski Threshold.” Democracies are more likely to persist if a country is relatively wealthy, but development does not guarantee democracy will arise automatically.
• Democracy as Rules and UncertaintyIn his writings, Przeworski emphasized that democracy is a system where parties compete under rules and uncertainties, and where outcomes are not guaranteed. Crucially, all sides must be willing to accept possible losses for democracy to work.
• Democracy and CapitalismPrzeworski has examined the complex interactions between market economies and democratic politics, arguing neither system perfectly supports the other. His work highlights tensions between inequality, redistribution, and stability in capitalist democracies.
• Methodological ContributionsA pioneer in using statistical and formal models, Przeworski advanced empirical studies of political regimes, testing long-held theories with comparative data rather than ideology or anecdote.

Key Works & Readings

• Democracy and Development (with Alvarez, Cheibub, Limongi, 2000)
• Democracy and the Market (1991)
• Why Bother with Elections? (2018)
• Capitalism and Social Democracy (1985)