Showing papers by "Center for the Study of Democracy published in 2019"

Empowering Women: The Role of Emancipative Forces in Board Gender Diversity

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of country-level emancipative forces on corporate gender diversity around the world. Based on Welzel’s (Freedom rising: human empowerment and the quest for emancipation. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2013) theory of emancipation, we develop an emancipatory framework of board gender diversity that explains how action resources, emancipative values and civic entitlements enable, motivate and encourage women to take leadership roles on corporate boards. Using a sample of 6390 firms operating in 30 countries around the world, our results show positive single and combined effects of the framework components on board gender diversity. Our research adds to the existing literature in a twofold manner. First, our integrated framework offers a more encompassing, complete and theoretically richer picture of the key drivers of board gender diversity. Second, by testing the framework empirically, we extend the evidence on national drivers of board gender diversity.

Prosociality in business: a human empowerment framework

Abstract: This study introduces a human empowerment framework to better understand why some businesses are more socially oriented than others in their policies and activities. Building on Welzel’s theory of emancipation, we argue that human empowerment—comprised of four components: action resources, emancipative values, social movement activity, and civic entitlements—enables, motivates, and entitles individuals to pursue social goals for their businesses. Using a sample of over 15,000 entrepreneurs from 43 countries, we report strong empirical evidence for two ecological effects of the framework components on prosociality. We find that human empowerment (1) lifts entrepreneurs’ willingness to choose a social orientation for their business, and (2) reinforces the gender effect on prosociality in business activity. We discuss the human empowerment framework’s added value in understanding how modernization processes fully leverage the potential of social business activities for societies.

A tale of culture-bound regime evolution: the centennial democratic trend and its recent reversal

Abstract: Using a new measure of “comprehensive democracy,” our analysis traces the global democratic trend over the last 116 years, from 1900 until 2016, looking in particular at the centennial trend’s cult...

Definitions and measures of party institutionalization in new personal politics: The case of the 5 star movement

Abstract: The emergence of personalized party organizations has called for a redefinition of the concept of party institutionalization (PI). This article brings different strands of literature together and proposes a new multidimensional index of PI. PI is conceived of as the interplay of objective and internal party features with the external environment. The viability of the index is tested through its application to a prominent case of personal party, the Italian Five Star Movement (5SM). Through a detailed analysis of its history, we show that the 5SM has become more institutionalized over time; however, this has especially affected its external facet, while other specific party traits have been less involved. Findings suggest that the stabilization of internal structures to connect party echelon and rank-and-file remains a challenge.

Promoting responsible science and CBRN security through codes of conduct and education

Abstract: The paper examines the utility of codes of conduct for promoting responsible science and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) security education. It reviews the growing international consensus on the need for developing codes of conduct as a way of engaging scientists with the broader social, ethical, and legal implications of their work and examines the ongoing efforts to develop and promulgate such codes. The paper argues that the effectiveness of codes of conduct requires sustained and tailored effort in promoting education and awareness of security issues among scientists.

Democratic Stress and Political Institutions: Drives of Reforms of Bicameralism in Times of Crisis

Abstract: Traditional patterns of political participation and party representation in Europe have been put to the test by the so-called crisis of representative democracy: mainstream parties have been percei...

Comparison of this Project’s Quantitative Findings with Others’ Evaluations of Consociation’s Effects

Abstract: The significance of this project’s quantitative results is further elucidated through their comparison with common critiques of consociational theory and similar projects’ methodologies and findings. The operationalization and scientifically sound statistical treatment of Lijphart’s theory illustrate that it is not correct to assert that it is unfalsifiable. Analysis of six favorable conditions identified by Lijphart through control variables suggests many insights regarding their relationship to consociation, which has been qualitatively analyzed in a wide range of publications. The quantitative studies most similar to this one are not designed to precisely represent this theory but most of their findings involving related concepts do not contradict those derived from this dataset.

Informal payments by patients in Croatia: benign custom or detrimental residue from socialism?

Abstract: Almost three decades after the collapse of the socialist system, numerous informal practices inherited from that period have remained deeply entrenched in the Croatian economy and society. Faced with burdensome regulations and complicated procedures, many citizens and companies opt to resolve their problems using string-pulling, bribery and undeclared work. However, there are many other informal means of conduct, which have not been given adequate attention so far. One of them is the practice of giving gratuity and gifts to medical practitioners for services that are already covered by health insurance, whose roots and the exact function are still not sufficiently understood. To start filling the gap, this paper explores which groups of citizens give out-of-pocket payments to doctors and nurses, as well as what motivates them to do so. The logistic regression analysis applied on data from the Special Eurobarometer Survey No 470, which was conducted in October 2017 on a stratified sample of 1,038 Croatians, reveals that these payments by no means represent a benevolent custom of expressing gratitude for healing. Even though a certain portion of citizens exercises this practice out of choice, informal payments more commonly occur following a direct request by medical staff or simply because the patient feels a pressure to do so. As revealed by the analysis, the majority of such transactions in Croatia highly resemble standard forms of bribery. In line with this, it is recipients rather than donors of gifts and cash supplements who should be targeted in endeavours to eradicate the phenomenon.

What are the effects of entry of new extremist parties on the policy platforms of mainstream parties

Abstract: We examine the consequences to policy-seeking, center-left and center-right parties under proportional representation following entry by extremist parties either at one or both ends of a unidimensi...

Newer Political Systems Yielding Valuable Insights Concerning Consociation: South Africa and Northern Ireland

Abstract: In the 1990s, consociational components were implemented in South Africa and Northern Ireland. Although elements of consociation were introduced in South Africa’s 1994 interim constitution, most were not maintained in the country’s 1997 constitution and a majoritarian system emerged which is dominated by one political party. South Africa’s experience implies valuable insights regarding closed list proportional representation and the potential advisability of designing consociational governance mechanisms so they can gradually become more centripetal. Northern Ireland’s recent history illustrates that consociation’s success seems facilitated by the single transferable vote proportional representation system. Comparison of these countries’ political systems since the 1990s also suggests a close connection between the nature of groups’ political demands and their expectations regarding likely external intervention.

White Liberals: Or “Tautua” and “Ifonga”? My Life in East Palo Alto

Abstract: In this chapter, the author draws from her 40 years of community-based leadership in East Palo Alto, California, during an era of significant, continuing demographic shift. Her experience of racism and unsettling economics recalls another time in the author’s youth, in Samoa, where as a Pacific Islander she witnessed the harsh effects of intrusion by white Europeans and Americans. In an autobiographical writing that is part “testimonio” (after Menchu RI, Rigoberto Menchu: an Indian woman in Guatemala. Verso Books, London, 1983; and Cruz C, Int J Qual Stud Educ 14:657–669, 2001) and part “auto-ethnography” (after Reed-Danahay DE, Auto/ethnography: rewriting the self and the social. Berg, Oxford, 1997; and Chang H, Autoethnography as method. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, 2008), the author’s personal storytelling informs and modifies our understanding of abstract social constructs, and vice versa.

What Is Consociation

Abstract: Lijphart’s commitment to bringing stability to plural societies has led him to write extensively about consociation in a body of literature published over more than four decades. Scientifically sound quantitative analysis of his theory of consociation requires systematic identification of its elements. This chapter demonstrates that his central claim is that “consociation promotes stability in plural societies.” It also shows that he has consistently described consociation as consisting of four core components: grand coalition, segmental autonomy, proportionality, and minority veto power. The exact meanings of these terms as they are used by Lijphart are precisely described. Consideration of common criticisms of Lijphart’s work in this area emphasizes that quantitative operationalization of the theory of consociationalism and the system’s components is a valuable contribution in itself.

Conclusions: How Can Stability Be Achieved Most Efficiently in Plural Societies?

Abstract: This project’s quantitative tests of consociational theory provide evidence that highly inclusive coalitions deter violent and nonviolent instability. A positive impact by the other three consociational components could not be confirmed through analysis of this dataset. Factor analysis appears to support Lijphart’s observation that countries using consociational components are not less likely to enjoy stability than other democracies. Case study analysis of seven societies suggests that incentives for intergroup political consideration facilitate the success of consociation and need not be introduced through mechanisms which could permanently exclude potentially antagonistic groups from power. Some such practices are the single transferable vote electoral system, the creation of heterogeneous constituencies, and occasional non-group-related referendums.

The Plural Societies for Which Consociation Is Prescribed

Abstract: The plural societies described by Lijphart are identified as precisely as possible through analysis of every usage of the term in his work involving consociation. Comparison of this concept with similar ones described by other political scientists illustrates the relevance of this project’s findings to a wide body of research involving intergroup conflict. The optimal means available for operationalization of Lijphart’s plural societies through quantitative cases is explored, justified, and specified. The drawbacks of this methodological decision are acknowledged and discussed. Recognition of the imperfect correspondence between how plural societies would ideally be represented and the best data available now for doing so emphasizes the value of studying the effects of consociation through case studies, as well as statistical analysis.

Empirically Depicting Consociation’s Role

Abstract: The variables and data used to represent consociation and stability in the quantitative analysis are discussed and specified. The set of phenomena which ideally would be included through control variables is explored, and six are identified which can be incorporated into the statistical analyses. The close correspondence between this project’s variables and Lijphart’s theory of consociation is emphasized by the inclusion of five representing factors which he identifies as favorable to the success of this political system. While the dependent variable of instability is analyzed through protest and rebellion data, multiple independent variables portraying consociation are used to enable discrimination of the effects of its four components.

Some of Consociation’s Most Celebrated Successes: Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Austria

Abstract: The histories of Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are often cited as exemplifying the profound, positive impact of consociation in plural societies. Austria clearly achieved, and has maintained, stability since consociational elements were introduced there after World War II. However, the country’s experience does not seem relevant to evaluation of consociational theory because Austrian society at that time did not fit Lijphart’s definition of a plural society. The two such societies in which consociation seems to have promoted stability best, Switzerland and the Netherlands, have been governed by systems combining segmental autonomy with additional incentives for policy moderation. Some of these motivating factors include cross-cutting cleavages, state-directed patriotism, and majoritarian referendums.

Supposed Cases of Historical Success Experiencing Significant Instability: Canada and Belgium

Abstract: Canada and Belgium are commonly recognized as having benefitted tremendously from consociation but the cleavages which inspired both countries’ adoption of its mechanisms remain problematic. For more than 150 years, Canada and Belgium have been governed by consociational institutions and practices, which are credited with enabling elites to maintain stability and prevent their states’ disintegration. Both countries are now federations and this is not surprising considering that their potentially destabilizing cleavages involve geographically concentrated groups seeking regional autonomy. Although some predict Canada and Belgium could experience secession, substantial evidence suggests this will be prevented by overarching state-directed loyalty, desire to avoid destabilization and uncertainty, and required majoritarian consent for secession in Canada.