A Comparative-Historical Study of the Causes and Barriers to the Rule of Law at the Global Level

Derakhshani, Milad; Razi, Davod; Karimi Maleh, Ali; Mobaraki, Mohammad

doi:10.22034/jsi.2026.2097460.1853

A Comparative-Historical Study of the Causes and Barriers to the Rule of Law at the Global Level

Articles in Press

Document Type : scientific

Authors

Milad Derakhshani ¹

Davod Razi ¹

Ali Karimi Maleh ²

Mohammad Mobaraki ³

¹ Department of Sociology of Social Issues in Iran, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

² Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

³ Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22034/jsi.2026.2097460.1853

Abstract

In this study with using a quantitative-comparative approach, it examines the association of economic (GDP per capita), structural (country size and ethnic fractionalization), and historical-institutional (legal origin and dominant religion) variables with cross-national differences in the rule of law across 142 countries during two periods (2014–2018 and 2019–2023). Data were extracted from the World Justice Project (WJP) and the World Bank databases. The findings indicate that economic development shows the strongest and most stable positive association with the rule of law. Legal origin is also significantly associated with the quality of the rule of law. Structural variables, despite significant bivariate negative correlations, do not exhibit an independent association in the multiple regression model, suggesting that their association is transmitted through other channels, particularly economic development and institutional capacity. Ultimately, the regression model, explaining approximately 80% of the variance, confirms that the rule of law is the product of a complex interplay among economic capacities, institutional history, and structural conditions.

Keywords

Rule of Law

Economic Development

Legal Origin

Country Size

Ethnic Heterogeneity

Subjects