The neglected variable. The coevolution of public administration and political parties in the UK and Italy (1950–2010)

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-124
Author(s):  
Eugenio Pizzimenti ◽  
Enrico Calossi
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Party Change ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Party Organizations

AbstractThe relationships between the State and political parties have often been analysed in dual terms. Yet, as Katz and Mair already noticed in their well-known (and criticized) article on the emergence of the cartel party, a clear separation between parties and public institutions has never been completely achieved, in the evolution of liberal democracies. In contrast, while parties act as agencies of institutionalization, public institutions recognize (de jure or de facto) parties as the legitimate actors of political representation. From this perspective, it is worth considering party change as a process intertwined also with institutional change. To date, however, the analysis of such a relationship has been neglected by political scientists, who have privileged explanations of party change based on other factors, whether at systemic or at a micro level. By avoiding a priori assumptions about causality, our main research question is the following: is it possible to identify patterns of co-evolution between State institutions – more specifically, public administration – and party organizations? Building on a new institutional approach to organization theory, the aim of this article is to investigate to what extent the evolution in the size of party organizations and in the size of public administration has followed similar trajectories. Our study focuses on the United Kingdom and Italy, from 1950 to 2010. Our findings confirm that parties' external face expands when public spending and the number of public employees increase, and vice-versa. The same holds for parties' internal face, at least in the Italian case.

Diminished Parties

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
Definition Of

Many contemporary party organizations are failing to fulfill their representational role in contemporary democracies. While political scientists tend to rely on a minimalist definition of political parties (groups of candidates that compete in elections), this volume argues that this misses how parties can differ not only in degree but also in kind. With a new typology of political parties, the authors provide a new analytical tool to address the role of political parties in democratic functioning and political representation. The empirical chapters apply the conceptual framework to analyze seventeen parties across Latin America. The authors are established scholars expert in comparative politics and in the cases included in the volume. The book sets an agenda for future research on parties and representation, and it will appeal to those concerned with the challenges of consolidating stable and programmatic party systems in developing democracies.

Radical Party Politics and Mobilization Against It in the Slovak Parliamentary Elections 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-352
Author(s):  
Oľga Gyárfášová ◽  
Peter Učeň
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Party System ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Popular Support ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The People ◽  
Election Results

This article reviews certain trends in popular support for political parties – especially new ones – as they manifested themselves prior to and during the 2020 parliamentary elections. It summarizes the ways in which demand for change was expressed before and during the election through the election results and the data on party supporters. It concludes that the thesis on the radicalization of new generations of party-political challenges in the Slovak polity did not hold true in 2020. The main research question regards the possibility of conceptualizing the rise of two new moderate political parties, PS/Together and For the People, as a counter-mobilization against the previous emergence of radical anti-establishment and anti-systemic challengers within the party system.

scholarly journals Attitudes and opinions of Italian middle-level elites in the new millennium. Adaptation, innovation, or persistence?

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42
Author(s):  
Paola Bordandini ◽  
Rosa Mulé
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
National Party ◽  
Party Change ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
Unique Data

The literature on party politics has generally conceived of party change as party adaptation. Building on the theories of institutional change based on critical juncture analysis, our work contributes to the literature in two ways. Theoretically, by unpacking the concept of party change in three dimensions: adaptation, innovation, and persistence. This multidimensionality has been unduly neglected in the literature, too exclusively focussed on party adaptation. Empirically, the article analyses whether the attitudes and opinions of middle-level elites reveal adaptation, innovation, or persistence in their belief system at the beginning of the third millennium. Drawing upon a unique data set of national party delegates of 15 Italian political parties, regression results suggest that high entry barriers in party organizations may hinder Schumpeterian innovation.

scholarly journals Relevance of Classical Management Theories to Modern Public Administration: A Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred G. Nhema
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Organizational Management ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Human Relations ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
The Past ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Management Theories

 ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the analysis of management theories of the 19th and early 20th centuries that are commonly referred to as classical organization theories. These ideas are contrasted with the human relations school of thought that achieved great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. The study asserts that there are valuable lessons that modern public bureaucracies and other public institutions can draw from these early theoretical frameworks. Public organizations molded on the classical organizational management theoretical perspectives have proven remarkably stable in different circumstances around the world. However, they are now increasingly expected to adapt to new and unforeseen circumstances by integrating the foundations inherited from the past and the lessons learnt over the past three decades. Such an approach will enable public institutions to adapt to rapid changing circumstances and in the process be well equipped to meet the demands of their citizens at the levels of theory and practice. Key words: classical organization theory, human relations perspectives, rationality, rule of law, public administration.            

scholarly journals The art of good governance: how images from the past provide inspiration for modern practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gjalt de Graaf ◽  
Hanneke van Asperen
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Past ◽  
Governance Practice

Since the early 1990s, discourse on ‘good governance’ has become more prevalent. What ‘good governance’ means and entails, however, and when we can speak of ‘good’ governance in this discourse, is not always clear. Many scholars in public administration and other social sciences writing about good governance have used visual interpretations of good governance from centuries ago to illustrate their case in point. Here, we also use pictures from the past – Lorenzetti’s Sienese frescoes to be more precise – yet, not as an illustration, but as the core of the argument. Our main research question is: how can Lorenzetti’s frescoes of Good Governance inspire our modern-day conception of good governance? We conclude that good governance is governance by good governors, and good governors are governors guided by benevolence. We end with a discussion of what that entails for modern-day governance practice. Points for practitioners Governance without integrity violations is not necessarily good governance. Benevolence is needed for that.

Searching for social equity among public administration mission statements

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-125
Author(s):  
Tyrone P Dooley
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Social Equity ◽  
Mission Statements ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Administration Programs

The main research question considered in this article is the relative prominence of social equity among public administration curricula via an examination of program mission. It has long been asserted that social equity is a key component of public administration education so much so that the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) made social equity a fourth pillar of public administration. The article points to a serious dilemma faced within the discipline, namely the unequal geographic distribution of social equity mission statements at the program level, while at the same time promoting it as essential to the discipline nationally. Based on an analysis of 184 public administration programs, this article advocates for a continued commitment and dedicated resources to promote social equity across smaller Masters of Public Administration programs.

scholarly journals Tendencje centralizacyjne w Polsce po 1990 roku – ciągłość i zmiana

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Jacek Wojnicki ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Strong State ◽  
State Administration ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Reforms

The article discusses the issue of centralization tendencies in Poland. It constitutes an attempt to present this process in the context of the functioning of public administration in our country. The main research question is whether centralization was constantly present during the 30 years of creating a new model of public administration in Poland, or whether it was strengthened after 2015. The financial independence of local government units is also a crucial aspect of the analysis. The article correspondingly focuses on the resistance of the government administration during the implementation of local government reforms. Importantly, what is factored in as well is the change in the perception of the position and the role of local governments in the political system after the 2015 parliamentary elections by the new government camp. Analysis of the past provided the precedent premises for strong centralization tendencies, in particular, the traditions of the strong state administration of the Second Polish Republic after the May coup in 1926 and during the People's Republic of Poland.

scholarly journals Are businessmen a benefit to public policy? And if so, what specifically can they offer?

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 02062
Author(s):  
Jan Urban
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Economic Policy ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Revolving Doors

Research background: The closer interaction between business and government has, on a global basis, drawn attention to the “revolving doors” issue, i.e. the movement of persons between high posts in the public and private sectors. Purpose of the article: The main research question of this study covers the issue whether successful businessmen do or do not have better prospects for more effective political governance and economic policy making than career politicians or political professionals, and/or if politics and business require, for achieving their goals, similar or substantially different personal requirements. Methods: The survey was based on multidisciplinary qualitative comparative approach and literature research, covering historical, economics, management, and psychological views. This method corresponds the complex nature of the topics surveyed. Findings & Value added: The findings arrived to the conclusion that even a person successful in business may not necessarily have the expertise for effective public administration as well as sound public policy decisions. It showed that the opposite idea, coming often from businessmen circles themselves, fails to take into consideration that government, due to several reasons, cannot be operated like a business and many characteristics of successful businessmen do not fit well to high political posts, due both to their management style and “professional blindness” in terms of their approach to economic policy, e.g. international trade. Even though many management methods of successful companies can and should be taken over by the state/public administration, this goal can be achieved without the direct personal involvement of professional businessmen.

Advokasi Aliansi Masyarakat Sipil: Kegagalan Merebut Aksesibilitas Pengelolaan Corporate Social Responsibility Melalui Peraturan Daerah

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Ahmad Shodikin ◽  
Susetiawan Susetiawan
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
The Political ◽  
Civil Society Organization ◽  
Local Regulation ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Corporate Social

Alliance of Civil Society Organization (ACSO) Bojonegoro is striving to solve the problem by advocating the CSR issue which have more fair and sustainable through public policy (local regulation) about CSR. The main research question is how the advocacy by ACSO in obtaining the access of CSR management using the local regulation? This research uses qualitative approach and utilize various primary data from interviews and observations, also secondary data from news and documentation. This article shows that the CSR advocacy through local regulation in Bojonegoro district was not successful. The relation between ACSO and DPRD was not harmonious. The DPRD chose to ratify the draft of CSR management that has been formulated by the DPRD members. The political parties inside DPRD were stronger to force and formulate public policy of CSR.

Parties and Non-State Actors in Latin America

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Anria ◽  
Christopher Chambers-Ju
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Organized Labor ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
Societal Actors

Since the dual transition to democracy and the market in Latin America, associational linkages or the exchanges between parties and interest associations representing different groups in society gained prominence for their crucial role in structuring political representation and framing policy processes. In the early 21st century, how do the relationships between political parties and interest associations vary across and within countries? The literature on party–voter linkages has begun to examine the distinct relations that emerge when political parties interact with interest associations that represent societal groups in order to incorporate those groups into party organizations or coalitions. Although associational linkages can be constructed when party leaders reach out to interest associations, they can also be constructed when interest associations negotiate the terms of their political support. One approach to analyzing associational linkages involves focusing on the diverse relationships that emerging societal actors established with political parties. Social movements have constructed movement-based parties. These parties are a particularly puzzling phenomenon because they incorporate social movements into their organizations without necessarily demobilizing them. Emerging sectors of organized labor have also established an array of relationships to parties, with unions engaging in contentious or electoral mobilization, with different degrees of support for political parties. There are major opportunities to advance a broad agenda for research on associational linkages that highlights cross-regional contrasts and changes in the political economy.

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