EXPLICAR LA CALIDAD DEMOCRáTICA: ？QUé TAN RELEVANTES SON LAS TRADICIONES AUTORITARIAS?

this is the revised draft ofthe opening lecture given by the author atthe 2004 conference of italian society of political science in padua. inthe first sectionthe main definitions of democracy and democratic qualities rule of law, electoral accountability, inter-ins titutional accountability, responsiveness, freedom and equality/solidarity are discussed. inthe second a key ques tion is addressed: if we would liketo explainthe qualities of a democracy how much arethe previous politicaltraditions ofthe country relevant? other explanatory factors, which complementthe role of an authoritarian legacy, are also sugges ted and a few key hypotheses are proposed.the final section does not provide any comprehensive explanation, but analyses ofthe impact of authoritarian legacy in a few countries of southern europe, such as portugal, spain, and italy (but not greece where it is not relevant) and inthe southern cone as chile, argentina, uruguay, brazil, wherethe quality of contemporary democracies is ques tioned