Suchergebnisse

THIS ARTICLE ARGUES THAT THE CONSOCIATIONAL MODEL HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRATIZATION AND THAT IT HAS SERVED SOUTH AFRICA--ALL SOUTH AFRICANS--VERY WELL. IT TAKES ISSUE WITH MICHAEL KELLY CONNOR'S ARTICLE, "THE ECLIPSE OF CONSOCIATIONALISM IN SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION," AND SHOWS CONNORS WRONG ON FOUR COUNTS.

Reviews and discusses `A new political system model: Semi-presidential government', which appeared in vol.8 (1980), pp. 165-187 of this journal. Includes a response by the original author.

In practice, strict application of majority rule is extremely rare. The existence of the gap between theory and practice is important for 2 reasons. 'New' democracies need consensus democracy more than stable, mature democracies as they are more prone to internal cleavages. The drafting of a new or improved constitution starts badly if it takes the majoritarian view as its only point of departure. (SJK)

THE AUTHOR ENUMERATES SIX LESSONS THAT LATIN AMERICA CAN LEARN FROM THE RETURN TO DEMOCRACY IN SPAIN, PORTUGAL, AND GREECE IN THE 1970'S. SOME OF THE LESSONS ARE POSITIVE, OFFERING EXAMPLES TO BE FOLLOWED--SUCH AS CHOOSING A FORM OF DEMOCRACY THAT IS SUITABLE TO A COUNTRY'S SIZE AND TO ITS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DIVISIONS. OTHERS ARE NEGATIVE, OFFERING EXAMPLES TO BE AVOIDED--SUCH AS THE PORTUGUESE AND GREEK EXPERIMENTATION WITH A PRESIDENTIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

Compares the 1946-67 and 1867-88 periods with each other and with 20 other democracies in terms of the 8 criteria that distinguish majoritarian from consensus democracy. Finds that Dutch democracy is less consensual and more adversarial in some respects but the change is relatively modest. (Abstract amended)

The New Zealand government set up a Royal Commission to consider the country's electoral system. It produced an unexpectedly radical Report, challenging some of the basic assumptions of the Westminster system under which New Zealand has been governed for 100 years. This article considers the wider implications of the Report. (IPSA, abridged/DÜI)

THE UNITED STATES IS THE WORLD'S SECOND LARGEST DEMOCRACY (AFTER INDIA) AND THE LARGEST OF THE OLDER WELL-ESTABLISHED DEMOCRACIES, WITH A VERY LONG AND UNINTERRUPTED HISTORY OF FREE ELECTIONS. FOR THIS REASON, IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC EXAMPLE HAS BEEN AND SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT MODEL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW. THIS ARTICLE WILL FOCUS ON ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM THE PATTERN OF ELECTORAL RULES - AND IT WILL EMPHASIZE THE STRIKING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE AMERICAN ELECTORAL PROCESS AND THAT OF MOST OTHER DEMOCRACIES.

A CLEAR PATTERN CAN BE DISCERNED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY. FROM THE CLASSICAL THEORISTS UNTIL THE 1950'S. THE FIELD WAS GOVERNED BY A KUHNIAN "PARADIGM" BASED ON THE CONCEPTS OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY & INTERNATIONAL ANARCHY, AND EMBOBIDED IN THE INTERRELATED THEORIES OF WORLD-GOVERNMENT, BALANCE OF POWER, AND SECURITY.

A preliminary report on a cross-nat'l study of the soc bases of party preference in 10 democracies: the UK, France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Austria, & for comparative purposes, the US. 6 independent variables were selected for analysis: class, religion (church affiliation), religiosity (church attendance), Ru/Ur residence, age & sex. The strength of the relationships between the independent variables & party preference are expressed in terms of the "index of class voting" developed by Robert R. Alford & other similar indices. Class & religion turn out to be the strongest predictors of party preference. Moreover, esp in the continental European countries, the relation between church attendance & party choice is particularly strong. These relationships are explored further by means of a multivariate analysis. The paper also discusses the many methodological problems encountered in the study: the problem of the comparability of the data from country to country, the operational definition of the variables, the problems involved in the dichotomization of the independent & dependent variables, the utility of predetermined classifications, & the difficulty caused by the paucity of suitable data for secondary analysis. IPSA.

THIS ESSAY PUTS THE ISSUE OF CHOICE OF ELECTION SYSTEM IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE AND EMPHASIZES THAT SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT PLURALITY ELECTIONS ARE NOT THE MOST COMMON FORM OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTION SYSTEM. AN IMPORTANT FINDING IN THIS STUDY IS THAT DIFFERENT CRITERIA OF FAIR REPRESENTATION ARE SATISFIED ALMOST PERFECTLY BY PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEMS USING LARGE DISTRICTS.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1968

While it may be difficult to achieve and maintain stable democratic governments in countries with deep religious, ideological, linguistic, cultural, or ethnic cleavages, Lijphart argues that it is not at all impossible. Through the analysis of political systems in six continents, he demonstrates that what he calls consociational democracy can be successful in severely divided or plural societies."Here, once again, Arend Lijphart is directing our attention to matters which will surely engage much of the attention of students of comparative politics in the next decade." G. Bingham Powell, Jr., American Political Science Review"A study which can speak to such a wide audience in political science deserves a warm welcome from the profession." Government and Opposition"A copybook example of the comparative method of political analysis, as well as indispensable reading for all who have an interest in the nature and prospects of representative democracy, whether in Europe or beyond."—The Times Higher Education Supplement"This well-written work, containing a wealth of information on politics of many diverse nations, is highly recommended."—Library Journal