Henry E. Hale and Robert W. Orttung (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780804798457
- eISBN:
- 9781503600102
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804798457.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This book examines the prospects for advancing reform in Ukraine in the wake of the February 2014 Euromaidan revolution. It examines six crucial areas of reform: identity-memory divides, corruption, ...
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This book examines the prospects for advancing reform in Ukraine in the wake of the February 2014 Euromaidan revolution. It examines six crucial areas of reform: identity-memory divides, corruption, constitution, judiciary, patrimonialism and the oligarchs, and the economy. On each of these topics, the book provides one chapter that focuses on Ukraine’s experience and one chapter that examines the issue in the broader context of other international practice. Placing Ukraine in comparative perspective shows that many of the country’s problems are not unique and that other countries have been able to address many of the issues currently confronting Ukraine. The chapters provide an in-depth analysis of Ukraine’s challenges and describe the difficulties Ukrainians will have in overcoming the numerous obstacles to reform. As with the constitution, there are no easy answers, but careful analysis shows that some solutions are better than others. Ultimately, the authors offer a series of reforms that can help Ukraine make the best of a bad situation. The book stresses the need to focus on reforms that might not have immediate effect, but that comparative experience shows can solve fundamental contextual challenges. Finally, the book shows that pressures from outside Ukraine can have a strong positive influence on reform efforts inside the country.Less
This book examines the prospects for advancing reform in Ukraine in the wake of the February 2014 Euromaidan revolution. It examines six crucial areas of reform: identity-memory divides, corruption, constitution, judiciary, patrimonialism and the oligarchs, and the economy. On each of these topics, the book provides one chapter that focuses on Ukraine’s experience and one chapter that examines the issue in the broader context of other international practice. Placing Ukraine in comparative perspective shows that many of the country’s problems are not unique and that other countries have been able to address many of the issues currently confronting Ukraine. The chapters provide an in-depth analysis of Ukraine’s challenges and describe the difficulties Ukrainians will have in overcoming the numerous obstacles to reform. As with the constitution, there are no easy answers, but careful analysis shows that some solutions are better than others. Ultimately, the authors offer a series of reforms that can help Ukraine make the best of a bad situation. The book stresses the need to focus on reforms that might not have immediate effect, but that comparative experience shows can solve fundamental contextual challenges. Finally, the book shows that pressures from outside Ukraine can have a strong positive influence on reform efforts inside the country.
Simon A. Waldman and Emre Caliskan
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190668372
- eISBN:
- 9780190848538
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190668372.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Middle Eastern Politics
This chapter examines the dynamics of Turkey’s policies of urban development. It shows that within the changing urban landscape there are politics not limited to those of ownership of public spaces ...
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This chapter examines the dynamics of Turkey’s policies of urban development. It shows that within the changing urban landscape there are politics not limited to those of ownership of public spaces and environmental concerns, but also a political-patrimonial relationship between the AKP, big businesses and the residents of poorer neighborhoods which stand to gain much from Turkey’s construction boom, despite its discontents. In order to understand this, the nature of the gecekondu (squatter) settlements must be understood and explained and how developing areas such as Gezi Park and planning “mega projects” became a political tool.Less
This chapter examines the dynamics of Turkey’s policies of urban development. It shows that within the changing urban landscape there are politics not limited to those of ownership of public spaces and environmental concerns, but also a political-patrimonial relationship between the AKP, big businesses and the residents of poorer neighborhoods which stand to gain much from Turkey’s construction boom, despite its discontents. In order to understand this, the nature of the gecekondu (squatter) settlements must be understood and explained and how developing areas such as Gezi Park and planning “mega projects” became a political tool.
Reinoud Leenders
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190458119
- eISBN:
- 9780190618520
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190458119.003.0012
- Subject:
- Political Science, Middle Eastern Politics
In its responses to the uprising-turned-insurgency in Syria, authoritarian governance and repression has not been a “stupid thing”. On the contrary, and moral considerations set aside, the Syrian ...
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In its responses to the uprising-turned-insurgency in Syria, authoritarian governance and repression has not been a “stupid thing”. On the contrary, and moral considerations set aside, the Syrian regime's responses to the uprising suggest that it is in-touch, calculative, rational, adaptive, and learning — if by trial and error, surely without necessarily quelling the uprising, but coming out dangerously close on top. This chapter documents and analyzes the sources and expressions of authoritarian upgrading strategies in response to mass mobilization and the insurgency in Syria since March 2011. Accordingly, the chapter analyzes the regime's responses to early mobilization, its reliance on coercion that helped transform the uprising into an insurgency, regime efforts to prevent and undermine the rise of an effective opposition leadership, playing the (sectarian and ethnic) identity card, restoring patrimonial practices in times of war, propaganda, and drawing lessons from abroad especially in the context of the Arab uprisings and international reactions to them. It is argued that regime responses have largely avoided the tunnel vision and aloofness typically associated with autocratic rule thanks to the relatively fragmented yet cohesive nature of regime power and resultant collective adaptability. The key findings are compared to common depictions of many Middle Eastern dictatorships as inherently irrational, out of touch, and lacking the finesse to in times of crisis adequately respond and survive.Less
In its responses to the uprising-turned-insurgency in Syria, authoritarian governance and repression has not been a “stupid thing”. On the contrary, and moral considerations set aside, the Syrian regime's responses to the uprising suggest that it is in-touch, calculative, rational, adaptive, and learning — if by trial and error, surely without necessarily quelling the uprising, but coming out dangerously close on top. This chapter documents and analyzes the sources and expressions of authoritarian upgrading strategies in response to mass mobilization and the insurgency in Syria since March 2011. Accordingly, the chapter analyzes the regime's responses to early mobilization, its reliance on coercion that helped transform the uprising into an insurgency, regime efforts to prevent and undermine the rise of an effective opposition leadership, playing the (sectarian and ethnic) identity card, restoring patrimonial practices in times of war, propaganda, and drawing lessons from abroad especially in the context of the Arab uprisings and international reactions to them. It is argued that regime responses have largely avoided the tunnel vision and aloofness typically associated with autocratic rule thanks to the relatively fragmented yet cohesive nature of regime power and resultant collective adaptability. The key findings are compared to common depictions of many Middle Eastern dictatorships as inherently irrational, out of touch, and lacking the finesse to in times of crisis adequately respond and survive.
