Crises push democratic systems toward less accountability and more concentrated power

Evidence

A “crisis” can be defined as a situation in which a policy action is especially desirable, even though not everybody may benefit equally from such action. … The implication is, then, that one should observe a movement toward more insulation in times of emergency. — Philippe Aghion, Alberto Alesina, and Francesco Trebbi, Endogenous Political Institutions, 190

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives a functional definition of ‘crisis’: high desirability of action plus uneven distribution of benefits.
• ADDENDUM: Extends the sacrifice article’s theme that stratified societies stabilize themselves by concentrating authority in moments of collective threat.