Abstract

The dissolution of the Soviet Union invites re-examination of Parsons' view of democracy as an evolutionary universal. This is done here in three steps. First, it is shown that his central propositions are in line with contemporary evolutionary thought which, problems of measurement notwithstanding, can be subjected to empirical test with indirect evidence. Secondly, and mindful of his commitment to the leading role of ideas in sociocultural evolution, his main argument for democracy as an evolutionary universal is summarized. Lastly, the most pertinent evidence of quantitative work to date is used to test his proposition. Contrary to his reasoning, it is found that hitherto authoritarian regimes have proved as adaptive to internal and external social change as democratic ones.