Book review: Democracy in small states - persisting against all odds by Jack Corbett and Wouter Veenendaal

Abstract

It is a rare and valuable occurrence when a visible gap is found in an important body scholarly literature. This is the case with the centuries-old study of democratization with its overarching theories and comprehensive empirical analysis, which, however, to date has practically excluded 20% of the countries in the world – small states. The book Democracy in Small States by Jack Corbett and Wouter Veenendaal fills this important gap, providing new evidence from the smallest countries in the world, adding much needed knowledge not only in the area of study – democratization – itself but also in the diverse disciplines with which this study interacts. In so doing, the book challenges established theories