Suchergebnisse

Discussed is policy formation by such authorities as the police, local & national government, bar associations, legal aid agencies, the judiciary, & prison authorities. Emphasized is the quasi-absence of reliable statistical information, good annual reports, & the necessary cooperation of the authorities in opening this area for social science research. Major decisions of the Belgian Dept of Justice over the past ten years are analyzed. HA.

The politicization of Belgian political parties since WWII has resulted in what is termed a "particracy," ie, a parliamentary democracy wherein party structures dominate the political decision-making process. The gradual institutionalization of party patronage within the parliament, ministerial cabinets, public administration, the judiciary, & mass media is discussed, examining mechanisms of recruitment & policy articulation. The process of within-party candidate selection is also considered, focusing on the shift away from rank-&-file participation toward central decisions by local & national party leaders, with a concomitant restructuring of "party discipline." Historical bases of the current patronage system are briefly considered, noting the prewar politicization of magisterial posts & the shift from reliance on party newspapers to party control of broadcast media administrators. Modified HA.