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1242. Village Elections, Public Goods Investments and Pork Barrel Politics, Chinese-style
- Author:
- Jikun Huang, Renfru Luo, Linxiu Zhang, and Scott Rozelle
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
- Abstract:
- A key issue in political economy concerns the accountability that governance structures impose on public officials and how elections and representative democracy influences the allocation of public resources. In this paper we exploit a unique survey data set from nearly 2450 randomly selected villages describing China's recent progress in village governance reforms and its relationship to the provision of public goods in rural China between 1998 and 2004. Two sets of questions are investigated using an empirical framework based on a theoretical model in which local governments must decide to allocate fiscal resources between public goods investments and other expenditures. First, we find evidence—both in descriptive and econometric analyses—that when the village leader is elected, ceteris paribus, the provision of public goods rises (compared to the case when the leader is appointed by upper level officials). Thus, in this way it is possible to conclude that democratization—at least at the village level in rural China—appears to increase the quantity of public goods investment. Second, we seek to understand the mechanism that is driving the results. Also based on survey data, we find that when village leaders (who had been elected) are able to implement more public projects during their terms of office, they, as the incumbent, are more likely to be reelected. In this way, we argue that the link between elections and investment may be a rural China version of pork barrel politics.
- Topic:
- Democratization, Government, Political Economy, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- China
1243. Opportunity 2008: the Presidential Candidates and U.S. Policies to Fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and Worldwide
- Publication Date:
- 12-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Africa Policy Information Center
- Abstract:
- The HIV/AIDS pandemic is the greatest global threat in the world today. Africa is ground zero of the crisis – home to over two-thirds of those living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis is the direct result of centuries of global injustice. Now, African efforts to defeat HIV/AIDS are hindered by insufficient resources and by U.S. and international policies that restrict access to essential treatment and comprehensive health care. The rapidly approaching November 2008 elections represent a tremendous opportunity to change this frustrating reality. The next U.S. President must make the fight against HIV/AIDS a priority in his or her administration.
- Topic:
- Politics
- Political Geography:
- Africa and United States
1244. Anti-Corruption Challenges in Post-Election Democratic Republic of Congo
- Author:
- Muzong W. Kodi
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Chatham House
- Abstract:
- Now that the Democratic Republic of Congo has held a series of elections that mark the end of the long transition period, new institutions are being put in place at the national and provincial levels. The paper retraces the enduring legacy of mismanagement, corruption and human rights violations which was left by Mobutu Sese Seko's regime (1965-97) and was deepened during the following six years of conflict and three years of the transition period. This paper shows that a culture of impunity compounded by an inversion of moral values persists and will be among the many challenges confronting the leaders of the new regime.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Civil Society, Demographics, Government, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo
1245. Presidential Rhetoric from Wilson to "W": Popular Politics Meets Recalcritant Reality
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Critical Review
- Institution:
- Critical Review Foundation
- Abstract:
- With the publication of Jeffrey Tulis's The Rhetorical Presidency, Woodrow Wilson's contribution to a major transformation in the American presidency—and in American politics—came to be recognized. But while Wilson believed that the danger of presidential demagoguery was overrated, forms of demagoguery that he underestimated have undermined the legitimacy of America's presidential democracy, in both its Wilsonian, plebiscitary form; and in the rule by decree to which presidents sometimes turn when their rhetoric does not suffice. The basic problem that Wilson overlooked is the mismatch between effective rhetoric and what can actually be accomplished, even by the most popular of presidents.
- Topic:
- Politics
- Political Geography:
- America
1246. "Publicity" And the Progressive-Era Origins of Modern Politics
- Author:
- Adam D. Sheingate
- Publication Date:
- 01-2007
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Critical Review
- Institution:
- Critical Review Foundation
- Abstract:
- The Rhetorical Presidency places great importance on the transformative power of political ideas. For Tulis, Progressive ideas informed the rhetorical practices of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson—practices that reconstituted the American presidency. They did so, in part, by trading on the ambiguous nature of the concept of “publicity”—which at once evoked liberal ideals of public deliberation and transparency, and modern practices of manipulative communication. In turn, the new practices of publicity revolutionized not only the American presidency, but American politics as a whole.
- Topic:
- Politics
- Political Geography:
- America
1247. 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
1248. Your Vote Counts, Your Vote Decides
- Author:
- Rafael López Pintor and María Félix Herrera
- Publication Date:
- 03-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Academy of Political Science
- Abstract:
- The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), based in Washington in DC, carried out a technical assistance program in support of the 2006 electoral process in Nicaragua, starting in October 2005. The counterpart institution was the Supreme Electoral Council, which together with IFES proceeded to define those areas in which IFES could collaborate. These were concentrated mainly in the fields of public information regarding the verification of the voter registration list, the preparation and distribution of voter identity cards and the direct training of members of the voting tables in all 153 municipalities in the country.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Democratization, Development, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Washington and Latin America
1249. From Power Outages to Paper Trails: Experiences in Incorporating Technology into the Election Process
- Author:
- Michael Yard, Ronan McDermott, Linda Edgeworth, and Douglas Jones
- Publication Date:
- 03-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Academy of Political Science
- Abstract:
- IFES experts in countries around the world have run into these kinds of contradictions and difficulties in providing assistance to election officials in making decisions about and implementing election technologies.
- Topic:
- Civil Society, Democratization, Politics, and Science and Technology
1250. 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