Search Results

Progressive Pragmatism as a Governance Model: An In-Depth Look at Porto Alegre, Brazil, 1989–2000

Susan Eva Eckstein and Timothy P. Wickham-Crowley

in What Justice? Whose Justice?: Fighting for Fairness in Latin America

The dominant Latin American neoliberal governance model failed at multiple levels. In response, an alternative emerged at the municipal level, for addressing the problems emerging out of neoliberal ... More

The dominant Latin American neoliberal governance model failed at multiple levels. In response, an alternative emerged at the municipal level, for addressing the problems emerging out of neoliberal policies. This model derived from the theory of pragmatic liberalism which posits that democratic process and efficiency outcomes are equally important to good governance, is known as progressive pragmatism. It forms the subject of this chapter, which posits that the model centers on specific combination of popular participation in decision-making with prudent fiscal policies. Specifically, it focuses on a governance model incorporating participatory budgeting and policies founded upon technocratic expertise. Hyperinflation, disorganized overspending on the poorer sections, and a loose monetary policy preceding the 1980s debt crisis were appropriated by the neoliberal advocates to advance their form of governance as the only feasible alternative. It reflected the laxity of the traditional Left in identifying and addressing the shortfalls.Less

Remo and Awolowo

Nolte Insa

in Obafemi Awolowo and the Making of Remo: The Local Politics of a Nigerian Nationalist

This chapter begins by setting out the book's two main themes. The first theme is the historical process by which a particular and distinctive region of Yorubaland – Remo – has been continuously ... More

This chapter begins by setting out the book's two main themes. The first theme is the historical process by which a particular and distinctive region of Yorubaland – Remo – has been continuously formed and re-formed as a political community over the past two centuries. The narrative focuses on the importance of popular consent and political participation in this process, and privileges the often-tumultuous events of the last seventy years. The second theme is the crucial role played in Remo politics of its most notable citizen, Obafemi Awolowo (1909–87), who was also a leading figure of pan-Yoruba politics over many decades and one of Nigeria's most important statesmen. Awolowo was equally a product and a producer of Remo politics. The discussion then covers popular participation in the making of Remo; popular participation in local-level politics; Remo politics before Awolowo; Awolowo as a product and a producer of Remo politics; local support as the basis of political success; Awolowo in national politics; and the myth and legacy of Awolowo. An overview of the subsequent chapters is also presented.Less

The consequences and impact of populism: institutionalisation and democractisation in Chávez's Venezuela  

Barry Cannon

in Hugo Chávez and the Bolivarian Revolution: Populism and Democracy in a Globalised Age

This chapter discusses the political consequences and impact of populism. Examining the literature, two principal consequences of populism emerge: increased popular participation and diminished ... More

This chapter discusses the political consequences and impact of populism. Examining the literature, two principal consequences of populism emerge: increased popular participation and diminished institutionalisation. The chapter argues that this analysis overlooks the influence of ideology on the extent of popular participation in specific populist experiences, and fails to place populism and specific populist governments in Latin America within a global and regional context. In order to deal with these issues, the chapter examines some writings on populism by two well-known U.S.-based political scientists, Kurt Weyland and Kenneth M. Roberts, who emphasise the consequence of diminished institutionalisaton. It then considers the failings in this analysis, referring to the current global and regional context, particularly the expansion of democracy in the age of globalisation. The chapter also looks at Hugo Chávez's presidency to illustrate these arguments, comparing it with Alberto Fujimori's presidency for comparative purposes.Less

Republicanism and Democracy1

John P. McCormick

in Republican Democracy: Liberty, Law and Politics

This chapter explores the notion of popular participation advocated by philosopher-statesmen of the past such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Leonardo Bruni and Francesco Guicciardini, and its political ... More

This chapter explores the notion of popular participation advocated by philosopher-statesmen of the past such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Leonardo Bruni and Francesco Guicciardini, and its political outcomes in relation to the common good. It highlights the significant similarities between traditional republicanism and the ideas of Philip Pettit. Drawing on the writings of Niccolò Machiavelli, it argues that the people are much more likely than the few to make decisions that promote the common good within republics. It also suggests that political democracy, owing to normative and empirical grounds, is more desirable than philosophical republicanism that empowers neutral or ‘depoliticised’ experts and representatives to act on behalf of the people. The chapter explains how popular marginalisation and elite empowerment resulted in the collapse of the regimes served by republican philosopher-statesmen.Less

Hospital contribution and civil society: humanity not democracy?

Martin Gorsky, John Mohan, and Tim Willis

in Mutualism and Health Care: Hospital Contributory Schemes in Twentieth-century Britain

This chapter investigates the role of hospital contributory schemes as mediators of popular participation in health provision in Great Britain. It presents empirical evidence on the scope for ... More

This chapter investigates the role of hospital contributory schemes as mediators of popular participation in health provision in Great Britain. It presents empirical evidence on the scope for grassroots or local involvement in decision-making and explores the structures and procedures of representation. It examines how active contributors were in the movement, in terms both of attendances in democratic forums and of the nature of the leadership which the movement selected to represent it. The analysis reveals that contributory schemes took their role as bastions of worker democracy very seriously.Less

“Why I Decentralized Bolivia”

Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Jean-Paul Faguet

in Is Decentralization Good For Development?: Perspectives from Academics and Policy Makers

Why would any president, having spent a career achieving the pinnacle of power, willingly hand it over to others he cannot control? This is the black hole at the heart of the decentralization debate ... More

Why would any president, having spent a career achieving the pinnacle of power, willingly hand it over to others he cannot control? This is the black hole at the heart of the decentralization debate that has never been satisfyingly answered. This chapter provides a response to this questionby considering the radical case of Bolivia, through an extended interview with the man who decentralized it. Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was a principal actor in some of the most important events in Bolivia’s—and indeed Latin America’s—modern history. A highly improbable politician and statesman, he rose to prominence as the minister who designed the stabilization plan that defeated hyperinflation in a period of near-national collapse. He was elected president in 1993 and again in 2002. His first term saw a burst of reforms that decentralized political power and resources to municipalities, capitalized the largest state enterprises, reformed education, created a new public pension system, reformed the executive branch of government, and reformed the constitution. His second term saw rising unrest that culminated in huge demonstrations, shocking violence, and Sánchez de Lozada’s resignation and exile to the USA, where he lives today. This chapter focuses on his formative experiences in government, how he came to believe in the necessity of reform, and how he carried his party and government in a startling push that decentralized Bolivia.Less

Epilogue: Spatial, Temporal, and Institutional Influences in New World Cities

Martin V. Melosi

in New World Cities: Challenges of Urbanization and Globalization in the Americas

The essays in the book gave attention to the place of their cities in the global economy; the effect of popular participation through politics of adhesion, division or survival; and the role of ... More

The essays in the book gave attention to the place of their cities in the global economy; the effect of popular participation through politics of adhesion, division or survival; and the role of formality and informality in shaping city life. Each essay used key spatial, temporal, and institutional markers to do so. Many emphasized the importance of space and place in shaping land uses and physical segregation. They placed globalization in a time sequence, and emphasized the impacts of formality/informality on structural and institutional factors governing city growth and political participation.Less

The Principle of Participation

Henk Addink

in Good Governance: Concept and Context

Participation is the active involvement of a group of individuals in a collective process on actual or intended actions of administrative authorities. Participation can refer to taking part in ... More

Participation is the active involvement of a group of individuals in a collective process on actual or intended actions of administrative authorities. Participation can refer to taking part in preliminary arrangements, influencing decision-makers, or taking part in actual decision-making processes. But participation can also be justified from the point of view of a sensible government finding out potential flaws and realizing ownership. The term ‘public participation’ presumes that the initiative and procedures are in the hands of citizens, the participation process is generally managed by public entities. The participation principle can be also about participation as a right, and the question of what consequences are there for the direct and guiding function of the administration. Participation is important under the democratic rule of law as well. Public participation can be motivated by democratic, constitutional, corporatist, or administrative motives. While the distinction between these motives for participation is not always unequivocal, these do offer an indication of the various perspectives—and consequently motives—of the parties involved in public participation. With regards to participation, a distinction can be made between the type and the level of participation achieved, ie form and degree of participation. Forms of participation are popular initiatives, the citizen’s panel, the referendum, and the community level forms. The degree of participation is quantified by using indicators, including the number of individuals, the time invested in and the frequency of participation, the involvement of individuals, the extent of influence on the process with respect to the issues addressed by the public authority and the level of participation that citizens are entitled to. Citizens could play different roles, for example one of co-decision-making, co-producing, counselling, consultation, or of distributing information.Less

Popular Presbyterianism

in English Presbyterianism 1590–1640

This chapter utilizes a bivariate analysis to evaluate whether there was any link between the main variables of social status and popular participation in presbyterian government. English ... More

This chapter utilizes a bivariate analysis to evaluate whether there was any link between the main variables of social status and popular participation in presbyterian government. English Presbyterianism could cover a wider social range than hitherto realized. The membership of the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam is then addressed. Distribution of alms has probably led to the growth of the Church among poorer members. While certain poorer members such as Thomas Adams may have objected to the intervention of the Dutch classis in their criticism of Paget, others were prepared to “tell the church” by appealing to the classis against the consistory's judgment. It is noted that public offense did not always involve public confession in the English Reformed Church. Poorer men and women have objected to and worked within the ambiguities between private and public boundaries as defined by the consistory.Less

Eternity Faces ‘the People’: Unamendability and Participatory Constitutional Change

Silvia Suteu

in Eternity Clauses in Democratic Constitutionalism

This chapter looks at a trend that seemingly contradicts the global rise of eternity clauses: popular participation in constitution-making processes. It discusses whether the deeper democratic ... More

This chapter looks at a trend that seemingly contradicts the global rise of eternity clauses: popular participation in constitution-making processes. It discusses whether the deeper democratic embeddedness of constitutions as pursued through participatory processes can help address democratic anxiety about eternity clauses. It maps several processes of constitution-making that can be characterized as participatory, with a view to determining whether unamendability was incorporated into the final constitutional drafts, how it was debated, and why alternative design choices have been adopted. This chapter seeks to test empirically those theoretical arguments about eternity clauses that view them as repositories of constituent intent. It also explores eternity clauses as the high point of the battle between rigidity and openness in constitutional design.Less

Raising (and Razing) the Common House: Moritz and the Ideology of Commonality

Elliott Schreiber

in The Topography of Modernity: Karl Philipp Moritz and the Space of Autonomy

This chapter focuses on Moritz’s analysis of political spaces in Reisen eines Deutschen in England im Jahre 1782 (A German’s Travels in England in the Year 1782) and in his political theory in the ... More

This chapter focuses on Moritz’s analysis of political spaces in Reisen eines Deutschen in England im Jahre 1782 (A German’s Travels in England in the Year 1782) and in his political theory in the Kinderlogik. The Reisen sharply contrasts England’s politics of popular participation with the exclusivity and subordination characteristic of Prussian absolutism. At the same time, though, it exposes rigid hierarchical structures that subtend representative government in England, focusing on how these structures are spatially articulated in the House of Commons. The Kinderlogik pushes these critical observations further, employing an extended architectural metaphor to suggest that political stratification does not simply result from limited electoral representation; rather, it is inherent in the system of representation, and constitutive of statehood as such. As with absolute cognitive freedom, Moritz does not ultimately hold absolute political freedom to be attainable. Nevertheless, he affirms the possibility of transforming the hierarchical architecture of the state, in a never-ending search for a common political space to which all members of the state have full and equal access.Less