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1961. Does Conflict Beget Conflict? Explaining Recurrent Civil War

Author:
Barbara F. Walter
Publication Date:
06-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies
Abstract:
This article seeks to explain why some countries experience recurring civil war while others do not. It argues that renewed war has less to do with the attributes of a previous war, as many people have argued, and more to do with the incentives individual citizens have to join rebel groups at any given point in time. Civil wars will have little chance to get off the ground unless individual farmers, shopkeepers, and workers choose to enlist in the rebel armies that are necessary to pursue a war, and enlistment is likely to be attractive when two conditions hold: the status quo for the average citizen is perceived to be worse than the possibility of death in combat, and there is no non-violent outlet for political change. An analysis of all civil wars ending between 1945 and 1996 suggests that improvements in basic living conditions and in the average person's access to political participation have a significant negative effect on the likelihood of renewed war. Countries that are able to increase the economic well-being of their citizenry, and create a more open political system are less likely to experience multiple civil wars regardless of what happened in a previous conflict.
Topic:
Security, Peace Studies, and Politics

1962. Administration and Cost of Elections (ACE) Project. The User's Guide to the ACE Project Electronic Resources

Publication Date:
12-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Academy of Political Science
Abstract:
The political dimensions - the issues, the positioning of parties and candidates, and the results - garner the most media attention and public discussion during an election campaign. Overshadowed, but no less important, however, is the “behind-the-scenes-work” of those ensuring the electoral process comes about without a hitch. If the election goes smoothly, the administration will hardly be noticed. If it does not, accusations of disenfranchisement, manipulation, or malpractice may result, possibly jeopardising the legitimacy and the results of the electoral event.
Topic:
Education, Government, and Politics

1963. Palestinian Elections

Publication Date:
08-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Academy of Political Science
Abstract:
The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), as well as a representative of the Government of Norway, jointly organized a pre-election assessment mission to the West Bank and Gaza between July 14 and July 24, 2002. The purpose of the mission was fourfold: 1) to evaluate the pre-electoral environment and identify the requirements of the Palestinian Authority, political parties, civil society and the international community to establish a meaningful electoral process; 2) to identify the elements of the process that are most vulnerable and the obstacles that must be overcome; 3) to assess the state of technical preparations for elections; and 4) to recommend electoral reform measures that could enhance the transparency and credibility of the process.
Topic:
Government and Politics
Political Geography:
Middle East, Norway, and Palestine

1964. The Perverse Logic of French Politics

Author:
Shmuel Trigano
Publication Date:
06-2002
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Abstract:
Today the Jewish community in France finds itself in a completely new social and political situation, which could represent a turning point in its history.
Topic:
Security, Politics, and Religion
Political Geography:
France

1965. Observing The 2002 Mali Presidential Elections

Publication Date:
10-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Carter Center
Abstract:
Mali's 2002 presidential elections mark an important step in Mali's democratic consolidation following the completion of President Alpha Oumar Konare's two terms in office.
Topic:
Civil Society, Democratization, and Politics
Political Geography:
Africa and Mali

1966. Citizen Participation and Economic Development

Author:
Marcela Tribble, Terry F. Buss, and Stevens F. Redburn
Publication Date:
04-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The National Academy of Public Administration
Abstract:
The past decade witnessed an increased interest among policy-makers, scholars, and advocates in expanding and deepening citizen participation processes, particularly in community and economic development activities. The Bush Administration, early on in its tenure, philosophized about the idea of a “citizen centric” government. The Clinton Administration, under the leadership of Vice-President Al Gore, worked on numerous citizen participation initiatives as part of its “reinventing government” program. Scholars, most notably, Robert Putnam, in books like Bowling Alone (2001), called attention to the decline in civil society. Redburn and Buss, in their monograph, Modernizing Democracy, called attention to the power of new information technology, and the Internet to engage citizens in public life in more sophisticated ways, and outlined a program to accomplish this goal. Advocates, like the Orton Family Foundation, have invested heavily in development and marketing of software—CommunityViz—to improve the quality of citizen deliberations on community and economic development policy and programming (www.communityviz.com). Representatives from neighborhood groups, the planning profession foundations, think tanks and universities met in Tampa in January 2002 to form a national association to raise the visibility of and expand opportunities for citizen participation in building communities (www.PlaceMatters.com). Hundreds of websites on citizen participation now dot the Internet landscape (e.g., www.democracyinnovations.org).
Topic:
Civil Society, Government, and Politics
Political Geography:
United States

1967. European Union — ECB Policy

Publication Date:
01-2002
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxford Analytica
Abstract:
This week's piece examines the ECB's monetary and communication policy. The Governing Council of the ECB has appeared fairly unmoved either by widespread criticism of its communication policy or by growing pressure for lower interest rates. The ECB has no choice but to remain committed to its price stability mandate, despite the change in economic climate. However, in doing so, it remains vulnerable to the dilemmas posed by the combination of strong independence and a narrow mandate.
Topic:
Economics and Politics
Political Geography:
Europe

1968. The Role Of Transition Assistance: The Case Of Indonesia

Author:
Glenn Slocum and Jean DuRette
Publication Date:
03-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
United States Agency for International Development
Abstract:
The Center for Development Information and Evaluation (CDIE) has responsibility for conducting Agency-wide evaluations on assistance topics of interest to USAID managers. In 2000, USAID began an evaluation of the role of transition assistance, with a specific emphasis on the role and activities of the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) in the Bureau of Humanitarian Response (BHR).
Topic:
Democratization, Development, Economics, Government, and Politics
Political Geography:
Indonesia and Southeast Asia

1969. The Enabling Environment for Free and Independant Media: Contribution to Transparent and Accountable Governance

Publication Date:
01-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
United States Agency for International Development
Abstract:
Throughout the world, there is a vast remapping of media laws and policies. This important moment for building more democratic media is attributable to rapid-fire geo-political changes. These include a growing zest for information, the general move towards democratization, numberous pressures from the international community, and the inexorable impact of new media technologies. Whatever the mix in any specific state, media law and policy is increasingly a subject of intense debate.
Topic:
Civil Society, Democratization, Education, and Politics

1970. Achieving a Final Status Settlement for Kosovo

Author:
Janusz Bugajski, R. Bruce Hitchner, and Paul Williams
Publication Date:
08-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Public International Law Policy Group
Abstract:
On November 19, 2002, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the National Albanian American Council, and the Dayton Peace Accords Project held a one-day conference in Washington, D.C., at CSIS, entitled “The Future of Kosovo.” The conference was attended by U.S. policymakers, congressional representatives, regional specialists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), business leaders, journalists, as well as key activists and analysts from Kosovo. The vital question of Kosovo's emerging status was discussed openly with a view to producing a subsequent report offering concrete recommendations to the U.S. administration, U.S. legislators, and major international organizations on the question of Kosovo's future status.
Topic:
Democratization, Government, and Politics
Political Geography:
America, Europe, Washington, Kosovo, and Albania