Suchergebnisse

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPLIES THE PRINCIPAL-AGENT MODEL THE POLITICS OF INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN, THAT IS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR INTRA-PARTY CONSTITUENCIES, IN THREE SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES. IT EXAMINES WHETHER THE PRINCIPAL-AGENT THESIS PROVIDES A USEFUL METHODOLOGICAL TOOL OR THE ANALYSIS OF INTRA-PARTY STRUGGLES OVER ORGANIZATIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF POWER. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE MODEL IN INDEED APPLICABLE TO THE STUDY O INTERNAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND CONFLICT, BUT THAT A MORE RIGOROUS TEST AND APPLICATION IS NECESSARY TO FULLY ASCERTAIN ITS METHODOLOGICAL AND THEORETICAL VALUE FOR THE STUDY OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN GENERAL.

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES SOME OF THE MORE RECENT THEORETICAL STATEMENTS ON NATIONALISM. IT REPRESENTS A TAXONOMY OF THE MAIN BODIES OF LITERATURE AND JUXTAPOSES STRUCTURAL, CULTURAL AND RATIONAL CHOICE APPROACHES. IT ARGUES THAT ALL OF THESE APPROACHES PRESENT IMPORTANT INSIGHTS BUT FAIL TO CAPTURE THE PHENOMENON ADEQUATELY. THE ESSAY CLOSES WITH THE OBSERVATION THAT ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDIES PROVIDE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF NATIONALISM AND INTRODUCE VALUABLE INSIGHTS AS WELL AS METHODOLOGIES.

Focuses on the strategic choices that actors within social democratic parties face when dealing with their intraparty opponents. Argues that adaptation is more difficult for parties with a strong organizational connection to blue-collar unions in declining industries and relatively smooth for parties with a greater organizational independence from unions in declining industries. (RSM)

Addresses some of the questions raised by Michels, McKenzie and Duverger about oligarchic tendencies and undemocratic features in party organization in light of the experience of 2 new parties. (Abstract amended)

Reorganisation strategies to adapt to political and workplace-related changes are insufficient to reverse the decline in the unions' influence on government policies and hostile employer strategies. The unions' position is shaped by both international economic and domestic factors, primarily the relationship to the conservative parties and the bargaining position at the firm level. Strategies to revitalise union power have to be political, not economic or organisational. (Abstract amended)