Ole Borre and Elinor Scarbrough (eds)
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198294740
- eISBN:
- 9780191598838
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198294743.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This book is the third in the ‘Beliefs in government’ series, and examines the effects of the post‐war arrival of the welfare state in the countries of Western Europe. The welfare state inaugurated a ...
More
This book is the third in the ‘Beliefs in government’ series, and examines the effects of the post‐war arrival of the welfare state in the countries of Western Europe. The welfare state inaugurated a vast expansion in the role of government, which led to fears that the increased expectations of citizens would lead to government overload and to ‘ungovernability’. This book sheds new and surprising light on such fears. It begins by examining the expanding scope of government in the post‐war period. Drawing on a vast data set, stretching back over the past two decades and across Europe, it clarifies public attitudes towards the range and extent of government activity. It identifies changes in the public's political agenda, along with attitudes towards the size of government, taxation, and the equality and security goals of the welfare state. Attitudes towards government intervention in the economy, the environment, and the media are also examined. The book's final chapters assess the significance for governments of beliefs about the scope of the government.Less
This book is the third in the ‘Beliefs in government’ series, and examines the effects of the post‐war arrival of the welfare state in the countries of Western Europe. The welfare state inaugurated a vast expansion in the role of government, which led to fears that the increased expectations of citizens would lead to government overload and to ‘ungovernability’. This book sheds new and surprising light on such fears. It begins by examining the expanding scope of government in the post‐war period. Drawing on a vast data set, stretching back over the past two decades and across Europe, it clarifies public attitudes towards the range and extent of government activity. It identifies changes in the public's political agenda, along with attitudes towards the size of government, taxation, and the equality and security goals of the welfare state. Attitudes towards government intervention in the economy, the environment, and the media are also examined. The book's final chapters assess the significance for governments of beliefs about the scope of the government.
Ole Borre and Michael Goldsmith
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780198294740
- eISBN:
- 9780191598838
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0198294743.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This introductory chapter sets out the book's objective and clarifies the basic concepts relating to the relationships between government and governed, and their implications for democratic ...
More
This introductory chapter sets out the book's objective and clarifies the basic concepts relating to the relationships between government and governed, and their implications for democratic legitimation and governability. It explains the type of statistical data used to study these relationships, and briefly summarizes the structure of the book.Less
This introductory chapter sets out the book's objective and clarifies the basic concepts relating to the relationships between government and governed, and their implications for democratic legitimation and governability. It explains the type of statistical data used to study these relationships, and briefly summarizes the structure of the book.
Barry Ames and Timothy J. Power
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- January 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199289653
- eISBN:
- 9780191710964
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199289653.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This chapter analyzes the historical development and contemporary functionality of the Brazilian party system, emphasizing the post-1985 democratic regime. Environmental factors such as ...
More
This chapter analyzes the historical development and contemporary functionality of the Brazilian party system, emphasizing the post-1985 democratic regime. Environmental factors such as authoritarianism, federalism, presidentialism, statism, corporatism, personalism, and clientelism have all exercised strong anti-party effects in Brazil. The current party system is depicted as highly fragmented, highly competitive, highly volatile, and weakly institutionalized. The system is also extremely uneven in terms of parties' commitments to ideology and organization — the major exception being the Workers' Party (PT), which finally captured the presidency in 2002. The primary explanatory focus is on the electoral system used for the lower house (open-list proportional representation or OLPR), but the analysis also illustrates how OLPR interacts with various structural, historical, and institutional variables in Brazil. The chapter concludes by explaining how the party system persistently undermines the possibilities for governability in Brazil.Less
This chapter analyzes the historical development and contemporary functionality of the Brazilian party system, emphasizing the post-1985 democratic regime. Environmental factors such as authoritarianism, federalism, presidentialism, statism, corporatism, personalism, and clientelism have all exercised strong anti-party effects in Brazil. The current party system is depicted as highly fragmented, highly competitive, highly volatile, and weakly institutionalized. The system is also extremely uneven in terms of parties' commitments to ideology and organization — the major exception being the Workers' Party (PT), which finally captured the presidency in 2002. The primary explanatory focus is on the electoral system used for the lower house (open-list proportional representation or OLPR), but the analysis also illustrates how OLPR interacts with various structural, historical, and institutional variables in Brazil. The chapter concludes by explaining how the party system persistently undermines the possibilities for governability in Brazil.
Franz Traxler, Sabine Blaschke, and Bernhard Kittel
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198295549
- eISBN:
- 9780191685132
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198295549.003.0015
- Subject:
- Business and Management, HRM / IR, Political Economy
While there is no definite relationship between the organization of interests and the system of wage regulation, these labour relation dimensions may have different effects on performance. The ...
More
While there is no definite relationship between the organization of interests and the system of wage regulation, these labour relation dimensions may have different effects on performance. The differentiation between collective bargaining, coverage, centralization, bargaining coordination, and its government capacity are simplified as follows: centralization and coordination do not co-vary but performance values coordination more. Along with this notion, horizontal coordination — bargaining on behalf of different jobs and sectors — should be differentiated with vertical coordination which involves ranking. The distinction between horizontal and vertical coordination lies in the difference between macroeconomic coordination and bargaining governability. Governability or state action on procedural regulation may also affect performance through the bargaining process.Less
While there is no definite relationship between the organization of interests and the system of wage regulation, these labour relation dimensions may have different effects on performance. The differentiation between collective bargaining, coverage, centralization, bargaining coordination, and its government capacity are simplified as follows: centralization and coordination do not co-vary but performance values coordination more. Along with this notion, horizontal coordination — bargaining on behalf of different jobs and sectors — should be differentiated with vertical coordination which involves ranking. The distinction between horizontal and vertical coordination lies in the difference between macroeconomic coordination and bargaining governability. Governability or state action on procedural regulation may also affect performance through the bargaining process.
Franz Traxler, Sabine Blaschke, and Bernhard Kittel
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198295549
- eISBN:
- 9780191685132
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198295549.003.0020
- Subject:
- Business and Management, HRM / IR, Political Economy
Peak-level coordination involves bargaining structures — the most important factor in determining performance — that are most sensitive to wage externalities when under high governability and pattern ...
More
Peak-level coordination involves bargaining structures — the most important factor in determining performance — that are most sensitive to wage externalities when under high governability and pattern bargaining. Under the Keynesian regime during the 1970s, the main contribution of labour relations to performance was to limit demand management by keeping price stability compatible with full employment by making use of an incomes policy. In cases like the 1973 oil shock, the need for an incomes policy increased because absorbing income loss required wage increases to be scaled down for investment so that probability could be maintained. It was during this period that only a few countries were able to attain the right combination of incomes policy and centralized structures or corporatism. Other countries tried to apply a state-sponsored wage coordination accompanied by more centralized bargaining. This chapter describes and compares how institutions responded to shifts in the first and last subperiods of the 1970s.Less
Peak-level coordination involves bargaining structures — the most important factor in determining performance — that are most sensitive to wage externalities when under high governability and pattern bargaining. Under the Keynesian regime during the 1970s, the main contribution of labour relations to performance was to limit demand management by keeping price stability compatible with full employment by making use of an incomes policy. In cases like the 1973 oil shock, the need for an incomes policy increased because absorbing income loss required wage increases to be scaled down for investment so that probability could be maintained. It was during this period that only a few countries were able to attain the right combination of incomes policy and centralized structures or corporatism. Other countries tried to apply a state-sponsored wage coordination accompanied by more centralized bargaining. This chapter describes and compares how institutions responded to shifts in the first and last subperiods of the 1970s.
Franz Traxler, Sabine Blaschke, and Bernhard Kittel
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198295549
- eISBN:
- 9780191685132
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198295549.003.0021
- Subject:
- Business and Management, HRM / IR, Political Economy
Because of the change from demand-side to supply-side policies, both liberal and corporatist labour relations underwent shifts in the period under consideratin in this book: from pluralism to ...
More
Because of the change from demand-side to supply-side policies, both liberal and corporatist labour relations underwent shifts in the period under consideratin in this book: from pluralism to neoliberalism on one hand, and from classic to lean corporatism on the other. In the 1970s though, the experience of no form of coordinated bargaining did not match with empirical evidence. Nonetheless, uncoordinated bargaining outperformed peak-level coordination under low governability. Decentralized and uncoordinated bargaining and poorly organized labour relations thus proved to be more effective because they were more consistent with supply-side policies than with Keynesianism. The opposite, however, applies to classic corporatism. This chapter attempts to further explain these metamorphoses and shifts while also differentiating the different labour-relations regimes with one another in terms of coordination, bargaining, participation, centralization, and other such criteria.Less
Because of the change from demand-side to supply-side policies, both liberal and corporatist labour relations underwent shifts in the period under consideratin in this book: from pluralism to neoliberalism on one hand, and from classic to lean corporatism on the other. In the 1970s though, the experience of no form of coordinated bargaining did not match with empirical evidence. Nonetheless, uncoordinated bargaining outperformed peak-level coordination under low governability. Decentralized and uncoordinated bargaining and poorly organized labour relations thus proved to be more effective because they were more consistent with supply-side policies than with Keynesianism. The opposite, however, applies to classic corporatism. This chapter attempts to further explain these metamorphoses and shifts while also differentiating the different labour-relations regimes with one another in terms of coordination, bargaining, participation, centralization, and other such criteria.
Jonathan Davies
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9781529210910
- eISBN:
- 9781529210958
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529210910.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Between Realism and Revolt explores urban governance in the “age of austerity”, focusing on the period between the global financial crisis of 2008-9 and the beginning of the global Coronavirus ...
More
Between Realism and Revolt explores urban governance in the “age of austerity”, focusing on the period between the global financial crisis of 2008-9 and the beginning of the global Coronavirus pandemic at the end of 2019. It considers urban governance after the 2008 crisis, from the perspective of governability. How did cities navigate the crisis and the aftermath of austerity, with what political ordering and disordering dynamics at the forefront? To answer these questions it engages with two influential theoretical currents, Urban Regime Theory and Gramscian state theory, with a view to understanding how governance enabled austerity, deflected or intensified localised expressions of crisis, and generated more-or-less successful political alternatives. It develops a comparative analysis of case studies undertaken in the cities of Athens, Baltimore, Barcelona, Greater Dandenong (Melbourne), Leicester, Montreal and Nantes, and concludes by highlighting five characteristics that cut across the cities, unevenly and in different configurations: economic rationalism, weak hegemony, retreat to dominance, weak counter-hegemony and radically contagious politicisations.Less
Between Realism and Revolt explores urban governance in the “age of austerity”, focusing on the period between the global financial crisis of 2008-9 and the beginning of the global Coronavirus pandemic at the end of 2019. It considers urban governance after the 2008 crisis, from the perspective of governability. How did cities navigate the crisis and the aftermath of austerity, with what political ordering and disordering dynamics at the forefront? To answer these questions it engages with two influential theoretical currents, Urban Regime Theory and Gramscian state theory, with a view to understanding how governance enabled austerity, deflected or intensified localised expressions of crisis, and generated more-or-less successful political alternatives. It develops a comparative analysis of case studies undertaken in the cities of Athens, Baltimore, Barcelona, Greater Dandenong (Melbourne), Leicester, Montreal and Nantes, and concludes by highlighting five characteristics that cut across the cities, unevenly and in different configurations: economic rationalism, weak hegemony, retreat to dominance, weak counter-hegemony and radically contagious politicisations.
Issa Kohler-Hausmann
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- May 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780691196114
- eISBN:
- 9781400890354
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691196114.003.0007
- Subject:
- Social Work, Crime and Justice
This chapter analyzes the technique of performance. “Performance” refers to a set of activities the defendant is instructed by the court or prosecution to undertake and later to present as a ...
More
This chapter analyzes the technique of performance. “Performance” refers to a set of activities the defendant is instructed by the court or prosecution to undertake and later to present as a successful achievement demonstrating responsibility and governability. It explores a wide range of such tasks—from in-patient drug treatment to community service—and shows how these duties are assigned and evaluated as performances revealing the defendant's character or capacity to be directed by official rules. The unifying logic behind disparate performance activities is evaluating how a defendant has executed the act. The technique of performance seeks normalization but does not involve constant engagement and supervision: it entails a command and a sanction-backed compliance check.Less
This chapter analyzes the technique of performance. “Performance” refers to a set of activities the defendant is instructed by the court or prosecution to undertake and later to present as a successful achievement demonstrating responsibility and governability. It explores a wide range of such tasks—from in-patient drug treatment to community service—and shows how these duties are assigned and evaluated as performances revealing the defendant's character or capacity to be directed by official rules. The unifying logic behind disparate performance activities is evaluating how a defendant has executed the act. The technique of performance seeks normalization but does not involve constant engagement and supervision: it entails a command and a sanction-backed compliance check.
René Antonio Mayorga
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- June 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780804752787
- eISBN:
- 9780804767910
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804752787.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics
This chapter explores the roots of neopopulism and the emergence of outsider politicians in the Andean countries. It identifies the causes for the emergence of outsiders and their rise to power, ...
More
This chapter explores the roots of neopopulism and the emergence of outsider politicians in the Andean countries. It identifies the causes for the emergence of outsiders and their rise to power, looks at the sequences and patterns of party system collapse and analyzes the negative impact of outsiders' politics on liberal democracy and democratic institutions. It examines the common patterns and qualitative differences in Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia and suggests that the main cause of the decomposition of party systems is a crisis of governability.Less
This chapter explores the roots of neopopulism and the emergence of outsider politicians in the Andean countries. It identifies the causes for the emergence of outsiders and their rise to power, looks at the sequences and patterns of party system collapse and analyzes the negative impact of outsiders' politics on liberal democracy and democratic institutions. It examines the common patterns and qualitative differences in Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia and suggests that the main cause of the decomposition of party systems is a crisis of governability.
Christopher J. Bickerton
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199606252
- eISBN:
- 9780191751639
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199606252.003.0004
- Subject:
- Political Science, European Union, International Relations and Politics
The third chapter expands on this theoretical argument by developing a historical account of the shift from the national Keynesian state to the contemporary member state. It looks at the origins of ...
More
The third chapter expands on this theoretical argument by developing a historical account of the shift from the national Keynesian state to the contemporary member state. It looks at the origins of the Keynesian consensus in the post-1945 period and studies in detail its conflicts and contradictions. It argues that the early period of European integration was a reflection of these contradictions but integration was constrained by the strength of state–society relations at the time. Political strategies beyond national frameworks were stillborn as the institutionalized role of organized labour in the Golden Age era gave cohesiveness to the nation state framework. The chapter goes on to look at the crisis of this framework in the 1970s and 1980s, the political resolution of the crisis, and its institutional legacy in the form of European integration.Less
The third chapter expands on this theoretical argument by developing a historical account of the shift from the national Keynesian state to the contemporary member state. It looks at the origins of the Keynesian consensus in the post-1945 period and studies in detail its conflicts and contradictions. It argues that the early period of European integration was a reflection of these contradictions but integration was constrained by the strength of state–society relations at the time. Political strategies beyond national frameworks were stillborn as the institutionalized role of organized labour in the Golden Age era gave cohesiveness to the nation state framework. The chapter goes on to look at the crisis of this framework in the 1970s and 1980s, the political resolution of the crisis, and its institutional legacy in the form of European integration.
Jonathan S. Davies
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9781529210910
- eISBN:
- 9781529210958
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529210910.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
The chapter explains the background to the study. It begins by explaining the academic parameters of the research. It moves on to explain the case studies and research process. It concludes by ...
More
The chapter explains the background to the study. It begins by explaining the academic parameters of the research. It moves on to explain the case studies and research process. It concludes by mapping out the structure of the book.Less
The chapter explains the background to the study. It begins by explaining the academic parameters of the research. It moves on to explain the case studies and research process. It concludes by mapping out the structure of the book.
Jonathan S. Davies
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9781529210910
- eISBN:
- 9781529210958
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781529210910.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Chapters 4 and 5 turn from state rescaling to coalitions among state, market and civil society actors, and the urban regime configurations that have arisen, or been challenged, in the post-crisis ...
More
Chapters 4 and 5 turn from state rescaling to coalitions among state, market and civil society actors, and the urban regime configurations that have arisen, or been challenged, in the post-crisis period. Chapter 4 explores the four cities in which regime consolidation was occurring around the amplification of austere neoliberalism: Athens, Baltimore, Dublin and Leicester. Though the cities vary significantly in size and influence, in each case the persistent lack, and further diminution, of local political capacity contributed to the recuperation of the municipality and its ostensibly centre-left political leaders. Multi-scalar regime politics contributes to rendering neoliberal austerity governable and to disorganising and disrupting contentious elements within civil society.Less
Chapters 4 and 5 turn from state rescaling to coalitions among state, market and civil society actors, and the urban regime configurations that have arisen, or been challenged, in the post-crisis period. Chapter 4 explores the four cities in which regime consolidation was occurring around the amplification of austere neoliberalism: Athens, Baltimore, Dublin and Leicester. Though the cities vary significantly in size and influence, in each case the persistent lack, and further diminution, of local political capacity contributed to the recuperation of the municipality and its ostensibly centre-left political leaders. Multi-scalar regime politics contributes to rendering neoliberal austerity governable and to disorganising and disrupting contentious elements within civil society.
Jayanta Sengupta
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- March 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780198099154
- eISBN:
- 9780199085224
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198099154.003.0008
- Subject:
- Sociology, Comparative and Historical Sociology
This chapter examines Orissa’s brush with India’s ‘crisis of governability,’ dramatized by the rise of Hindutva politics in the Orissa countryside, raging debates on religious conversion, frequent ...
More
This chapter examines Orissa’s brush with India’s ‘crisis of governability,’ dramatized by the rise of Hindutva politics in the Orissa countryside, raging debates on religious conversion, frequent instances of murderous violence against Christian missionaries, and the emergence of Maoist extreme left-wing movements in many tribal areas. It also takes stock of the current trends in party politics in the state, with special reference to the increasing importance of the tribal population of the Orissa hills for the electoral arithmetic of Congress, BJP and the Biju Janata Dal. It concludes that along with the rising political assertiveness of the region’s backward castes, these developments point towards a reorientation of Orissa’s politics of relative quiescence, ushering in an era of mounting community conflict.Less
This chapter examines Orissa’s brush with India’s ‘crisis of governability,’ dramatized by the rise of Hindutva politics in the Orissa countryside, raging debates on religious conversion, frequent instances of murderous violence against Christian missionaries, and the emergence of Maoist extreme left-wing movements in many tribal areas. It also takes stock of the current trends in party politics in the state, with special reference to the increasing importance of the tribal population of the Orissa hills for the electoral arithmetic of Congress, BJP and the Biju Janata Dal. It concludes that along with the rising political assertiveness of the region’s backward castes, these developments point towards a reorientation of Orissa’s politics of relative quiescence, ushering in an era of mounting community conflict.
Benjamin Braun
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- August 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780198820802
- eISBN:
- 9780191860430
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198820802.003.0009
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Political Economy
Central banks have increasingly used communication to guide market actors’ expectations of future rates of interest, inflation, and growth. However, aware of the pitfalls of (financial) central ...
More
Central banks have increasingly used communication to guide market actors’ expectations of future rates of interest, inflation, and growth. However, aware of the pitfalls of (financial) central planning, central bankers until recently drew a line by restricting their monetary policy interventions to short-term interest rates. Longer-term rates, they argued, reflected decentralized knowledge and should be determined by market forces. By embracing forward guidance and quantitative easing (QE) to target long-term rates, central banks have crossed that line. While consistent with the post-1980s expansion of the temporal reach of monetary policy further into the future, these unconventional policies nevertheless mark a structural break—the return of hydraulic macroeconomic state agency, refashioned for a financialized economy. This chapter analyses the theoretical and practical reasoning behind this shift in the governability paradigm and examines the epistemic and reputational costs of modern central bank planning and the non-market setting of long-term bond prices.Less
Central banks have increasingly used communication to guide market actors’ expectations of future rates of interest, inflation, and growth. However, aware of the pitfalls of (financial) central planning, central bankers until recently drew a line by restricting their monetary policy interventions to short-term interest rates. Longer-term rates, they argued, reflected decentralized knowledge and should be determined by market forces. By embracing forward guidance and quantitative easing (QE) to target long-term rates, central banks have crossed that line. While consistent with the post-1980s expansion of the temporal reach of monetary policy further into the future, these unconventional policies nevertheless mark a structural break—the return of hydraulic macroeconomic state agency, refashioned for a financialized economy. This chapter analyses the theoretical and practical reasoning behind this shift in the governability paradigm and examines the epistemic and reputational costs of modern central bank planning and the non-market setting of long-term bond prices.
Bonnie N. Field
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- September 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780198868484
- eISBN:
- 9780191905018
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198868484.003.0016
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, European Union
This chapter examines governments in Spain, which stands out in comparative European perspective. Between its transition to democracy in the 1970s and 2019, it did not have a coalition government. ...
More
This chapter examines governments in Spain, which stands out in comparative European perspective. Between its transition to democracy in the 1970s and 2019, it did not have a coalition government. Instead, governments were either single-party minority or majority ones. It was not until 2020 that Spain had its first coalition government—a minority one. This chapter reviews the institutions relevant to the life cycle of governments, the parliamentary party system and changes therein, and the record of government formation, governability, and government termination until 2018. In comparative perspective, Spain’s governments before 2015 generally formed rather easily, governed without great difficulty, and were quite stable. In contrast, the party system change in 2015 led to severe difficulties of government formation and governability.Less
This chapter examines governments in Spain, which stands out in comparative European perspective. Between its transition to democracy in the 1970s and 2019, it did not have a coalition government. Instead, governments were either single-party minority or majority ones. It was not until 2020 that Spain had its first coalition government—a minority one. This chapter reviews the institutions relevant to the life cycle of governments, the parliamentary party system and changes therein, and the record of government formation, governability, and government termination until 2018. In comparative perspective, Spain’s governments before 2015 generally formed rather easily, governed without great difficulty, and were quite stable. In contrast, the party system change in 2015 led to severe difficulties of government formation and governability.
Diego Maiorano
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780190233068
- eISBN:
- 9780190247416
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190233068.003.0002
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
The chapter starts with an account of the brief Janata Party government (1977-79) and shows how this changed Indian politics in several ways. It then presents an analysis of the 1980 elections in a ...
More
The chapter starts with an account of the brief Janata Party government (1977-79) and shows how this changed Indian politics in several ways. It then presents an analysis of the 1980 elections in a broader historical context. The main focus of the chapter is on the changes occurred within the Congress party during the early 1980s and their political implications. It argues that there was substantial continuity with earlier trends, in particular as far as the de-institutionalization of the Congress is concerned. The chapter illustrates the rise of the Youth Congress under Sanjay Gandhi’s leadership and how the latter’s death in 1980 affected the Congress party and the entire national party system. The chapter also describes Rajiv Gandhi’s unsuccessful attempt to reform the party. The de-institutionalization of the party is linked with the growing problems of governability, with special reference to the law and order situation in key areas.Less
The chapter starts with an account of the brief Janata Party government (1977-79) and shows how this changed Indian politics in several ways. It then presents an analysis of the 1980 elections in a broader historical context. The main focus of the chapter is on the changes occurred within the Congress party during the early 1980s and their political implications. It argues that there was substantial continuity with earlier trends, in particular as far as the de-institutionalization of the Congress is concerned. The chapter illustrates the rise of the Youth Congress under Sanjay Gandhi’s leadership and how the latter’s death in 1980 affected the Congress party and the entire national party system. The chapter also describes Rajiv Gandhi’s unsuccessful attempt to reform the party. The de-institutionalization of the party is linked with the growing problems of governability, with special reference to the law and order situation in key areas.
Sanford Levinson
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- April 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199890750
- eISBN:
- 9780190260088
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780199890750.003.0017
- Subject:
- Law, Constitutional and Administrative Law
This book has highlighted the importance of the political structures established by constitutions, focusing on the positive effects of well-designed structures and how poorly designed constitutions ...
More
This book has highlighted the importance of the political structures established by constitutions, focusing on the positive effects of well-designed structures and how poorly designed constitutions may lead to “ungovernability.” To conclude the discussion, this chapter asks whether the United States was “governable” during the civil war, when two percent of its population lost their lives over a dispute about the degree to which the Constitution protected slavery. It considers the claim that the U.S. Constitution was unable to forestall dissolution and war, as well as the minimalist notion of governability and its implications for democracy or “rights” beyond security and stability. It also calls for a new constitutional convention that could engage in a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution and the usefulness of many of its provisions to Americans in the twenty-first century.Less
This book has highlighted the importance of the political structures established by constitutions, focusing on the positive effects of well-designed structures and how poorly designed constitutions may lead to “ungovernability.” To conclude the discussion, this chapter asks whether the United States was “governable” during the civil war, when two percent of its population lost their lives over a dispute about the degree to which the Constitution protected slavery. It considers the claim that the U.S. Constitution was unable to forestall dissolution and war, as well as the minimalist notion of governability and its implications for democracy or “rights” beyond security and stability. It also calls for a new constitutional convention that could engage in a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution and the usefulness of many of its provisions to Americans in the twenty-first century.