The Transactional Degradation of Democracy (TDD) framework provides multi-level insights into how political actors, citizens, and institutions can strategically influence democratic outcomes. The simulations and empirical comparisons offer clear guidance for political strategy, citizen behavior, and policy interventions.
1. Political Strategy Implications
For Politicians:
Transactional incentives () can temporarily secure votes but increase systemic risk by accelerating democratic degradation ().
Sustainable political strategy should prioritize accountability, transparency, and ethical governance, as these enhance perceived justice () and long-term legitimacy.
Ignoring systemic feedback loops risks entrenching social unrest or authoritarian drift, reducing the effectiveness of short-term vote buying.
For Political Parties:
Parties can adopt reform-oriented platforms emphasizing justice, transparency, and ethical candidate selection to maintain both voter trust and system stability.
Monitoring internal adherence to promises reduces the risk of alienating constituencies and triggering bifurcation toward unrest.
2. Citizen Behavior Implications
Citizens play a critical micro-level role in determining macro-level outcomes:
Refusing to accept material incentives reduces , weakening the feedback loop that enables legislative arrogance ().
Active civic engagement, such as monitoring legislative behavior and reporting misconduct, strengthens perceived justice () and increases system resilience.