Suchergebnisse

Presents an edited version of the Stein Rokkan Lecture delivered at the 1995 ECPR (acronym not identified) Joint Session in Bordeaux, France. It is argued that the nature of government corruption has changed in recent decades, & both corruption & the populist reaction to it are threats to democracy. The recent increase in corruption is due to changes in global economic regulation, increased opportunities, & increased willingness of public officials to engage in it. The resulting populist antipolitical sentiment renders continuing democracy problematic. It is concluded that both the nature & function of democracy since the end of the Cold War need to be reconsidered. 12 References. M. Nichols-Wagner

They are based upon specialized corps of senior administrative officials responsible for regulation and management. They derive their strength from the integration of the groups concerned in the policy process, allowing them to compensate for the weakness of their organization and social base by the priviledged access and legitimacy acquired. (Abstract amended)

Osmotic relations lie between local and national elites, and the presence of a powerful central state administration at local level has generally ensured politics of compromise, collaboration and pragmatism. The Socialist government reforms of 1981-86 are a clear illustration of this: far from being radical and socialist, they reflect the consensus within the political elites and the constant search for a mythical reconciliation between local diversity and republican uniformity. (Abstract amended)

Populism has become a favourite catchword for mass media and politicians faced with the challenge of protest parties or movements. It has often been equated with radical right leaders or parties. This volume offers a different perspective and underlines that populism is an ambiguous but constitutive component of democratic systems torn between their ideology (government of the people, by the people, for the people) and their actual functioning, characterised by the role of the elites and the limits put on the popular will by liberal constitutionalism.