Suchergebnisse

Kurt Jefferson calls for the utilization in Eastern Europe of party system models developed in the western part of the Continent. By doing so, he highlights a fundamental tension that runs throughout the literature on political parties and, for that matter, much of comparative politics: the delicate balance between making generalizations through inductive reasoning and the pursuit of detailed knowledge by way of in-depth study of specific cases. Professor Jefferson squarely confronts this analytical balancing act. He thoughtfully envelops his focus on the Czechoslovak case within a stimulating proposal for one means through which to generalize about political parties. While engaged in microanalysis of a party system in a democratizing polity, his sensitivity for generalization takes form in his recommendation to apply western European models in analyzing eastern European party systems, even suggesting we should refer to "European politics" in lieu of the political-geographical prefixes of "west" and "east." Toward such ends, Jefferson illustratively applies Giovanni Sartori's (1990) party systems framework to Czechoslovakia.

Analyzes political parties, candidates, and campaign issues; formation of a minority government by Prime Minister Felipe González, leader of the Socialist Workers party (PSOE).

Abstract. Little research on peripheral nationalism goes beyond the case study approach. Comparative studies provide greater understanding of national self‐identification by comparing different ethnic groups, yet encounter difficulties in rigorously delineating specific non‐group causal factors. This study adds to our insights into peripheral nationalism by comparing self‐identification within the same group but in two different political systems. Study of the Basques in both Spain and France permits a comparison of the same group, thus imposing an analytical control on ethnicity, under two different sets of state policy directions. Utilizing survey data, this investigation found sharp differences in national self‐identification in the Basques in Spain and France. The argument is advanced that, even when other explanatory factors are considered, this difference in Basque identification should be understood in light of the different policy stances taken over time by the central governments in Paris and Madrid toward their respective Basque minorities. While initially counter‐intuitive, it is suggested that toleration and non‐repressive policies toward such minorities may actually serve in the long term to decrease peripheral national identification.

In an investigation of peripheral nationalism, survey data reveal distinct differences in national Basques in Spain & France (N = 113 & 100 Rs, respectively). It is argued that this difference must be understood in light of the different policy stances of the central governments toward their respective Basque minorities. While initially counterintuitive, it is suggested that toleration & nonrepressive policies toward such minorities may actually serve in the long term to decrease peripheral national identification. 13 Tables, 80 References. Modified HA

Pork barrel politics is a particular type of constituency service through which a legislator's geographic constituency benefits from the distribution of public works projects. The desire for reelection prompts a representative to use his influence to initiate local projects. A comparative model is presented, causally linking a country's electoral system with the de gree of pork barrel activity. Most literature has focused disproportionately on the United States. This model suggests that the electoral accountability linkage is strongest in coun tries with single-member districts and weakest in those with at-large districts. The article's central argument is that a strong correlation exists between the number of representatives per district and the degree of pork barrel politics. Factors such as committee structure and party discipline are also considered.