Democratic citizens across the globe agree on the importance of following the law, but they are deeply divided on whether inclusion and tolerance are necessary for a good society.
April 26, 2026
Original Paper
Tolerance Norms Across Countries
SSRN · 6617638
The Takeaway
Democratic stability is often assumed to rely on a shared foundation of liberal values among its people. Data from international surveys shows that while obedience to the law is a universal standard for citizenship, values like racial and religious inclusion are seen as optional or even unnecessary by many. This disconnect explains why a country can maintain its legal institutions while simultaneously drifting toward authoritarianism. Liberal democracy requires more than just following rules, but many populations do not view these core social freedoms as part of the deal. The survival of a democracy depends less on its laws and more on these invisible, unshared cultural norms.
From the abstract
Democratic theorists consider respect for pluralism, equality, and inclusion as cornerstones of good democratic citizenship. But what do ordinary citizens believe? Is their commitment to equality, tolerance, and pluralism as strong as their commitment to obeying rules? We answer this question by eliciting and analyzing normative expectations and individual normative beliefs regarding the meaning of good citizenship in 19 democracies. We find a global consensus on the importance of following rule