This page presents a list of the classic works on empirical democratic theory as compiled by faculty of the Center for the Study of Democracy at UC Irvine. These are works that are considered essenstial works on democracy by the Center's faculty. To qualify as a "classic" a books had to be published before 1990; the Center has prepared a separate list of "new classics" that have been published since 1990.
The Civic Culture : Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations
Gabriel Abraham Almond, Sidney Verba / Paperback / Published 1989
Political Action: Mass Participation in Five Western Democracies
Samuel Barnes, Max Kaase et al./Sage Publications/Published 1979
James M. Buchanan / Paperback / Published 1962
Angus Campbell / Paperback / Published 1980
Polyarchy; Participation and Opposition
Robert Alan Dahl/Paperback/Published 1971.
Democracy in Developing Countries
Larry Diamond, Juan Linz, and Seymour Martin Lipset/Paperback/(January 1988)/note: this references one book in a four volume series.
An Economic Theory of Democracy
Anthony Downs/Paperback/(June 1957)
Division and Cohesion
Harry Eckstein/Princeton University Press/Published 1966
Exit Voice and Loyalty : Responses to Decline in Firms, Organizations, and States
Albert O. Hirschman/Paperback/(September 1972)
The Silent Revolution in Europe : Integrational Change in Post-Industrial Societies
Ronald Inglehart / Paperback / Published 1993 (Originally 1977).
Arend Lipjhart, Arend Lijphart; Paperback/ Published 1984
Charles E. Lindblom / Paperback / Published 1977
The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes
Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan (Editors) / 1978/ note: this references one book in a multivolume series.
Political Man: The Social Bases of Politics
Seymour Martin Lipset/ Paperback/(June 1981)
Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World
Barrington, Jr. Moore/ Reprint Edition/Paperback, 559 pages
Participation and Democratic Theory
Carole Pateman / Paperback / February 1976
G. Bingham Powell/Reprint Edition/Paperback/Harvard Univ Press/1984
Capitalism and Social Democracy (Studies in Marxism and Social Theory)
Adam Przeworski / Paperback / Reprint edition (April 987)
William H. Riker/ Paperback/Reissue edition (August 1988)
Theory of Democracy Revisited Vol 1
Theory of Democracy Revisited Vol 2
Giovanni Sartori / Paperback / Published 1987
Transitions from Authoritarian Rule : Comparative Perspectives
Philippe C. Schmitter, et al / Paperback / Published 1986/note: this references one book in a multivolume series.
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (Harper Torchbooks)
Joseph A. Schumpeter / Paperback / Published 1962
Participation and Political Equality : A Seven-Nation Comparison
Sidney Verba, et al / Paperback / Published 1987
Participation in America : Political Democracy and Social Equality
Sidney Verba, Norman Nie / Paperback / Published 1987