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82. A Collapsing Façade – The Russian Duma Election in perspective
- Author:
- Sinikukka Saari
- Publication Date:
- 12-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Finnish Institute of International Affairs
- Abstract:
- The Duma election and its results reinforce the prevailing undemocratic trends in Russia. The changes in electoral laws, the election campaign and its biased coverage in the Russian media, the Russian authorities' hostile attitude towards international election observation and the so-called Putin's Plan leave very little hope of democratic pluralism developing in Russia anytime soon. Russia's political system has been built gradually over the years. The system aims at controlling the competition for power and securing the political elite's interests. The system is characterised by non-transparent and manipulated political processes, misleading doublespeak on democratic norms, and the misuse of soft and hard administrative resources. Putin's overwhelming popularity does not compensate for the lack of democratic accountability. Likewise, his possible premiership would not strengthen parliamentarism in Russia because the decision is driven by instrumentalism towards political institutions. Instead, it would create a dangerous precedent for an ad hoc separation of power. Western actors should be more aware that the stability that Putin is often praised for bringing about is not build on solid ground, and they should change their policies accordingly. Promoting democracy – and thus longterm stability – in Russia is in western actors' interests.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Democratization, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, and Asia
83. Was Liberty Really Bad for Russia? Part I
- Author:
- Leon Aron
- Publication Date:
- 08-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- Abstract:
- It is very much in the Russian and, even more so, Soviet political tradition for rulers to deprecate their predecessors. As they climb up the power ladder, the would-be Kremlin occupants must profess complete loyalty to the current leader in order to succeed. Once in power, the country's new masters bolster their authority by dissociating themselves from previous leaders. Along with the weakness of the country's political institutions, which undermines the legitimacy of the transitions, such repudiations almost inevitably result in the personalization of power, as the new occupants mold the political, social, and economic systems to their liking. Hence, Russian and—again and especially—Soviet history have often looked like a succession of very distinct personal political regimes—indeed, sometimes different states under the same name.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Cold War, Democratization, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, Asia, and Soviet Union
84. Was Liberty Really Bad for Russia?
- Author:
- Leon Aron
- Publication Date:
- 09-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- Abstract:
- Part I of this Russian Outlook dealt with what might be called the errors of commission, or false attribution, in the "chaos-of-the-1990s" stereotype, which became a major theme of the Putin Kremlin's propaganda. The economic crisis of that era, mostly inherited from the decaying Soviet economy, was laid at the revolutionary regime's door. Yet the "chaos" legend also contains errors of omission, for, on closer inspection, there was a great deal in the 1990s besides the alleged "chaos."
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Democratization, Government, Politics, and Privatization
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Soviet Union
85. Vote of Confidence, A? Voting Protocol and Participation in China's Village Elections
- Author:
- Xiaopeng Pang and Scott Rozelle
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
- Abstract:
- The goal of our paper is to provide an empirical basis for understanding progress (or stagnation) in the evolution of China's village committee elections. To meet this goal, we pursue three specific objectives. First, we seek to identify patterns (and trends) of voting behavior and develop ways to measure participation in the voting process. Second, we analyze who is voting and who is not (and document the process by which their votes are cast). Finally, we see to understand the correlation between propensity to vote and the quality of village elections.
- Topic:
- Government and Politics
- Political Geography:
- China and Asia
86. Corruption in China: half-way over the Great Wall
- Author:
- Keith Henderson
- Publication Date:
- 04-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Academy of Political Science
- Abstract:
- The legal-judicial transformation taking place behind China's Great Wall outpaces most other developing and transitional countries, but is reaching a critical crossroads. If the pace of judicial reform is maintained and implemented, it has the potential to impact on China and the world's future as much as the economic reforms of the last two decades, if not more so. The judicial system is emerging as a key institution in the reform process, and key decisions related to judicial independence in coming years will largely determine China's stature and place within the global community, and the government's relationship with its citizens. In a relatively short period of time, new criminal, civil and administrative law codes, anti- corruption laws, as well as thousands of judicial, economic and administrative regulations have either been passed, repealed or undergone substantial reform. Property rights and institutional reforms have also been enshrined in the constitution, an important Judges Law professionalising the judiciary has been passed and a number of important treaties have now been ratified. For the first time in modern Chinese history, the courts and legal profession are slowly but surely emerging as important, professional institutions with growing power. The main question of the day is whether China's leaders will now make the structural, judicial and political reforms necessary to address corruption and create an independent judiciary – albeit with Chinese characteristics.
- Topic:
- Corruption, International Law, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- China and Asia
87. Electoral Assessment: Thailand: 2007 Pre-Election Technical Assessment Report
- Author:
- Robert A. Dahl, Susan Palmer, Catherine Barnes, Beverly Hagerdon Thakur, and Catherine Kannam
- Publication Date:
- 04-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Academy of Political Science
- Abstract:
- IFES is pleased to present this comprehensive assessment report anticipating the upcoming constitutional referendum and general election in the Kingdom of Thailand. IFES hopes that these findings and recommendations can inform efforts to strengthen the democratic process within Thailand and can provide guidance as the nation seeks to reassume its position as a model for democracy within Southeast Asia. The field work and interviews that provide the substance of this report were conducted between March 14 and April 5, 2007.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Democratization, Government, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Asia and Thailand
88. Azerbaijan 2006 Survey FAQ
- Publication Date:
- 07-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Academy of Political Science
- Abstract:
- Dates of Fieldwork: Nov. 17 -Dec. 20, 2006 Sample Size: 1,600 Consists of a base national sample of 1,400 and an oversample of 200 respondents in select areas of the country Data presented here reflects national distribution of population. Margin of error for national sample: ±2.75% Urban/Rural Distribution: Urban (51%), Rural (49%) Gender Breakdown: Women (53%), Men (47%).
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Democratization, Government, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Caucasus, Asia, and Azerbaijan
89. The State of the Pro-Democracy Movement in Authoritarian Burma
- Author:
- Kyaw Yin Hlaing
- Publication Date:
- 12-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- East-West Center
- Abstract:
- When Burma gained independence in 1948, its regime was a part of the phenomenon, which Samuel Huntington called the second wave of democracies. Although Burma's parliamentary democracy was by no means perfect, opposition parties were allowed to exist and elections were held regularly. The coup staged by the Revolutionary Council, which was led by the military on March 2, 1962, brought an end to this brief period of electoral democracy in Burma.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Democratization, Development, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Asia and Burma
90. The Vagaries of the Presidential Succession
- Author:
- Leon Aron
- Publication Date:
- 05-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- Abstract:
- Russian president Vladimir Putin's term expires in March 2008. Despite the propaganda barrage designed to persuade everyone of an orderly change of government, the coming Russian presidential succession is far from a done deal. The stability and legitimacy that flow from democratic arrangements are compromised when these arrangements are weakened, as happened under Putin, ushering in uncertainty and risk.
- Topic:
- Corruption and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia