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19791. Changing games and evolving contexts: Political bargaining in European energy disputes

Author:
Fabio Franch
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
Game theory fails to adequately account for an evolving context which can affect the preferences of disputing actors, an issue which the author find to be likely to systematically produce inaccurate explanations and predictions. Empirical evidence is presented that supports the claim that the start of recent natural gas crises has damaged the GDP growth of 9 external European countries. A Pooled Panel Nonlinear Auto Regressive Conditional Heteroskedasti city (PP-NARCH) model and Box-Tiao intervention models are selected to support the validity of what is defined as a 'Fully-Fuzzy' (FF) game. The findings presented here are then enriched with a summary of the most relevant statements, agreements, and partnerships which are likely to have exerted pressure on Russia and the other negotiating country.
Political Geography:
Russia and Europe

19792. Costs and benefits of natural experiments in political science

Author:
Elena Labzina
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
Natural experiment is a research design that is widely employed in modern Political Science. Yet, in the existing literature the features of the concept are ambiguous. The major aim of this article is to refine the related theory and argue natural experiments provide valid estimates in terms of causal inference. First, the author summarizes briefly and develops the related theory:  the 'as-if' treatment randomization assumption is redefined with the introduction of  the expected exchangeability treatment assumption, which enables their classification more as natural experiments. Second, based on the renewed theory, the author proposes an algorithm for the assessment of assumed natural experiments. Third, the algorithm is applied to five illustrative cases of recent natural experiments from Political Science. As a result, it is found that only two of them may be considered capable of providing valid inference. The major empirical finding is these two valid  natural experiments are 'hidden' experiments, e.g. the individual(s) who were unaware that they assigned treatment had performed  the randomization. This leads to the conclusion that the mysterious “nature” in nature experiments is human beings.

19793. Secularization of politics and law

Author:
Candan Turkkan
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
This paper offers a theoretical analysis of the interplays of secularization in the sphere of law and the sources of legality in liberal democracies. First section focuses on the sphere of law, and argues that not only its form and content, but also its enforcement has become secular. These surely happen simultaneously with secularization in a different yet related aspect of governance – namely, the practices of law-making. The following section argues that secularization in this particular area of who makes the law has taken place in conjunction with the rise of liberal, parliamentary, constitutional democracy that attributes the constituent power of the politico-legal system to the people. A direct effect of this is observable in the ways people identify (identity) with the politico-legal system and how the system represents (representation) the people have changed; this is extensively discussed in the last section.
Topic:
Law
Political Geography:
North America

19794. Nick Couldry, Sonja M. Livingstone, and Tim Markham, Media consumption and public engagement. Beyond the Presumption of Attention

Author:
Lucia Vesnic-Alujevic
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
The consumption of media in everyday life is not a new topic and has been present in different studies of media, political communication since the time when mass media began to play an important role in the society. However, it is interesting to study media consumption in contemporary society because of many changes on one side in media landscape, influenced by the appearance of new information and communication technologies, and on the other with the decrease of political participation in many democratic societies. For democratic governments, citizen participation, at the first place as voters, should be a key element in the process of establishing goals in a society. Mass media represents a place where ideas and interests can be freely presented and discussed, but they have also served as a sort of assistance for political participation, thus they have an important role both in everyday life and also in politics.
Topic:
Communications

19795. Iñaki Garcia Blanco, Sofie Van Bauwel, and Bart Cammaerts (eds.), Media Agoras. Democracy, Diversity and Communication

Author:
Daniel Şandru
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
The normative theory of democracy often states that, among the conditions needed for democracy to function, consensus between leaders and social groups, freedom of speech and access to alternative sources of information are those which contribute decisively to the configuration of a public space wherein debate reveals its significance in relation to “the fallacy of electoralism” stressed by the studies on democratisation. In other words, the contemporary understanding of democracy – also supported by empirical analyses specific to comparative politics – no longer illustrates the belief that this system resides only in “free and fair” electoral processes – a condition which is necessary but not sufficient for the existence of democracy – but stresses instead the need to include debate in decision-making processes, by giving an opportunity to speak to all the groups activating in the social space.
Topic:
Communications

19796. Marc Morjé Howard, The Politics of Citizenship in Europe

Author:
Ivana Tomovska
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
The empirical study of citizenship policy in Europe still represents a poorly understood topic. A number of studies concentrate on the rights and practices of citizens as well as the issues of new migrants and their citizenship status. However, to the present there has been very scarce analysis produced treating comparative studies of citizenship across Europe and providing both historical and quantitative analysis.
Political Geography:
Europe

19797. Sigal R. Ben-Porath, Tough Choices: Structured Paternalism and the Landscape of Choice

Author:
Jiří J. Šebek
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
State paternalism smacks of an undue subordination to authorities, this is a common intuition. Sigal R. Ben-Porath might however change one's opinion as she has explored the term in depth in areas related to choice, regulation of intimacy, children and education, and oppressed and illiberal subcultures. While examining the value laden “paternalism”, Ben-Porath managed to tap a strong vein which is present in contemporary liberal democracies, that of a link between the debate on policy and the practice of implementing political ideals in particular circumstances. Ben-Porath approached this “last mile” problem with a challenging claim: structured paternalism delivers real options to choose from to citizens whose limited circumstances would not otherwise allow them to realise their civic rights.

19798. Emel Akçali, Chypre: Un Enjeu Géopolitique Actuel

Author:
Ana Dinescu
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
The end of the Cold War brought old conflicts back into the light. There were some instances when such conflicts bear immediate geostrategic relevance for international actors and practical considerations of the international organisations lead to medium and long-term solutions. Cyprus is one example in this vein, its Greek part being invited to become a full member of the European Union in May 2004, while the Turkish part was placed on a waiting list.
Topic:
Cold War
Political Geography:
Turkey

19799. Quentin Skinner, Hobbes and Republican Liberty

Author:
Mark Castelino
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
Historian Quentin Skinner's latest book deals with the notion of political liberty in the thought of Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679). Hobbes is well-known as a staunch proponent of absolute monarchical government; thus it might seem strange at first glance that Hobbes's name should find itself associated here with republicanism, a political ideology most associated with rule by the people. However, one sees that the juxtaposition of the two terms in the book's title is not at all out of place once the book's content is taken into account.

19800. Richard H. Immerman, Empire for Liberty, A History of American Imperialism from Benjamin Franklin to Paul Wolfowitz

Author:
Oana-Elena Brânda
Publication Date:
12-2011
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Central European University Political Science Journal
Institution:
Central European University
Abstract:
The academic profile of Richard Immerman  places him in the field of US foreign relations research. That is why a book about the American Empire viewed from a conceptual and rather philosophical side came as a surprise. Empire for Liberty, A History of American Imperialism from  Benjamin Franklin to Paul Wolfowitz is an effort to build along a chronological line, the argumentation to support today's existence of an American Empire. The book focuses on the evolution of the idea of an American Empire from the 18th century to present day. According to Immerman, the American Empire was built in two centuries, with extreme strains made not only by decision makers, but also by the people.
Political Geography:
United States