Polity IV Project: Dataset users’ manual

Abstract

The Polity IV project, an extension of the Polity research tradition, focuses on coding state authority characteristics for comparative, quantitative analysis. It defines polity as a political organization with a recognized central authority within certain territorial borders. Polity IV combines information from two Polity formats to address both state continuity and change and regime persistence and change. The project distinguishes regime and authority characteristics from non-state armed force challenges and considers polity fragmentation and factionalism. It emphasizes the relationship between identity groups and regime authority, acknowledging governance challenges posed by group diversity and potential consequences like polity fragmentation. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of state authority patterns and their implications for governance, civil warfare, and group integration. – AI-generated abstract.