Critical comments on Lijphart's theory of consociational democracy

Abstract

This article presents a critique on Lijhart's theory of consociational democracy. Examining the broad scope that the critical literature on the consociational theory has covered, the author concludes that the present consociational theory has serious theoretical, conceptual and methodological deficiencies. In addition, he maintains that more empirical research is needed to verify many of the theoretical and methodological assumptions of consociational theory.*