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The Meaning and Use of ‘Political Stability’ *
Author(s) -
DOWDING KEITH M.,
KIMBER RICHARD
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
european journal of political research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.267
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1475-6765
pISSN - 0304-4130
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6765.1983.tb00060.x
Subject(s) - stability (learning theory) , politics , political stability , meaning (existential) , object (grammar) , identity (music) , epistemology , sociology , positive economics , political science , economics , law , computer science , philosophy , aesthetics , artificial intelligence , machine learning
Few extended analyses of the concept of political stability have been published, much of the literature concentrating on an analysis of its causes. This article discusses the main approaches to stability and examines two recent conceptualizations by Ake and by Sanders. It is argued that both are unsatisfactory, and an alternative definition is developed, starting from first principles. The problems of identity and change are examined, and what counts as the survival of a political object is specified. A stable political object is defined as one that possesses the capacity to prevent its own forced non‐survival. It is argued that stability cannot be quantified and that there are thus no degrees of stability.