Final answer:
Dr. Robert Costanza states that creating an ongoing shared vision is essential for a democratic society, which is true. The relationship between economic growth and democracy is complex, with scholars suggesting democratic stability is influenced by economic development once established, but transitions to democracy can happen at varied levels of development.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Dr. Robert Costanza's perspective on a democratic society, it is true that such a society needs to create an ongoing shared vision. This approach aligns with the thesis held by scholars like James Fishkin, who emphasize the importance of political engagement and debate for advancing the public good and realizing citizens' potential. However, this question also touches on broader themes in political science and economics, such as the link between economic growth and democratic institutions, the role of revolutions and foreign policies, and different predicates for democratic stability.
Turning to modernization theory, it has been debated whether a causal link exists between economic growth and democratic institutions. Scholars like New York University professor Adam Przeworski and Fundação Getúlio Vargas professor Fernando Limongi suggest that although economic development in a society influences democratic survival once established, democratic transitions can occur at any level of development. This viewpoint provides a nuanced understanding of the relationship between economic growth and democracy, challenging the assertion that modernization theory has clearly established a causal link. Meanwhile, the claim that voting rates in the United States are higher than in most democratic industrialized countries is false, as countries like Sweden and South Korea typically have higher voter turnout.