Democracy is supposed to be the antithesis of hereditary rule by family dynasties. And yet 'democratic dynasties' continue to persist in democracies around the world. They have been conspicuously prevalent in Japan, where more than a third of all legislators and two-thirds of all cabinet ministers in recent years have come from families with a history in parliament. Such a high proportion of dynasties is unusual and has sparked concerns over whether democracy in Japan is functioning properly. This text introduces a comparative theory to explain the causes and consequences of dynasties in democracies like Japan.

Previously issued in print: 2018.