Singapore's Pandemic Election: Opposition Parties and Valence Politics in GE2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-780
Author(s):  
Steven Oliver ◽  
Kai Ostwald
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Group Representation ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Voting Behaviour ◽  
Popular Vote ◽  
Economic Crises ◽  
Safe Alternative ◽  
Strong Performance ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Singapore's 2020 general election was held amidst the most serious public health and economic crises in the country's history. Despite expectations that these parallel crises would precipitate a flight to safety and result in a strong performance by the dominant People's Action Party (PAP), the ruling party received its third-lowest popular vote share (61.2 percent) and lowest-ever seat share (89.2 percent) since independence. This article engages explanations for the unexpected results and argues that the vote swing against the PAP was enabled by a hitherto largely overlooked factor: the 2020 election included two opposition parties that could credibly compete with the PAP on the valence considerations that drive voting behaviour in Singapore, giving voters a perceived safe alternative to the PAP at the constituency level. Quantitative tests support the notion that party credibility—rather than demographic factors, incumbency advantages, Group Representation Constituencies, or assessments of the PAP's fourth- generation leaders—best explains variation in the vote swing against the PAP. Ultimately, the results suggest that the PAP's monopoly on party credibility is no longer assured, thus portending greater opposition competitiveness and pressure against the PAP in future elections. Nonetheless, the PAP's dominance remains intact and there is little evidence of a general appetite among the electorate for a non-PAP government, suggesting the likelihood of smaller course corrections rather than major steps towards democratization in the coming years.

Alliance Politics Amid the BJP’s Rise: More Continuity than Change in 2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-205
Author(s):  
Adam Ziegfeld
Keyword(s):  
Voting Behaviour ◽  
Alliance Formation ◽  
Alliance Politics ◽  
Bharatiya Janata Party ◽  
Strong Performance ◽  
Run Up ◽  
The Impact

Pre-election alliances have long figured prominently in Indian elections. Has the politics surrounding pre-election alliances changed with the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? This article analyzes patterns of election alliance formation across India’s states and examines the extent to which these alliances affected the outcome of the 2019 election. It finds that patterns of alliance formation in the run-up to the 2019 election did not, on the whole, differ noticeably from prior elections. Though the BJP’s strong performance muted the impact of some key alliances, election alliances nevertheless had a perceptible impact on the final allocation of seats and appear to have influenced voting behaviour largely as anticipated.

Measuring corporate sustainability: a Thai approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sooksan Kantabutra
Keyword(s):  
Structural Model ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Economic Crises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Public Benefits ◽  
Corporate Sustainability Performance ◽  
Strong Performance

Purpose – This study aims to measure the Thai approach of corporate sustainability. In the corporate world, the Thai philosophy of Sufficiency Economy can be applied to ensure corporate sustainability. Derived from the literature, a structural model expressing relationships between six independent variables of Sufficiency Economy indicators and three dependent variables of sustainability performance outcomes is formed accordingly, followed by hypotheses to be tested. Design/methodology/approach – The model is tested through a random sample of 294 chief executive officers (CEOs) in Thailand who were asked to respond to a questionnaire. Factor and regression analyses are adopted to test the hypotheses. Findings – Findings indicate that “perseverance” and “resilience” are two direct predictors of three sustainability outcomes of the firm’s enhanced capacity to deliver strong performance, endure social and economic crises and deliver public benefits. “Geosocial development” is a direct predictor of firm’s enhanced capacity to deliver public benefits and an indirect predictor of firm’s enhanced capacity to deliver strong performance and to endure social and economic crises. “Moderation” is an indirect predictor of the firm’s capacity to endure social and economic crises, while “sharing” is an indirect predictor of all three sustainability performance outcomes. Practical implications – Small- and medium-sized enterprises business leaders should develop a “perseverance” culture in their organizations and practice “resilience” to enhance their corporate sustainability prospect. Moreover, they should adopt “geosocial development”, “moderation” and “sharing” practices in their organizations, as these practices positively affect corporate sustainability performance directly or indirectly. Originality/value – This study is among the first few studies that identify corporate sustainability performance predictors.

Bound to Rule: Party Institutions and Regime Trajectories in Malaysia and the Philippines

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Brownlee
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Paired Comparison ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Hybrid Regime ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

This article revisits the electoral emphasis of hybrid regime studies, arguing instead that the impact of elections is structured by variations in prior political institutions, particularly the dismantlement or maintenance of a ruling party. Duration tests on 136 regimes indicate that ruling parties reduce the chance of regime collapse, while “electoral autocracy” has no significant effect. A paired comparison of Malaysia and the Philippines then shows how variations in party institutions propelled divergent courses of authoritarian dominance and democratization. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Malaysia's ruling party (UMNO) bound together otherwise fractious leaders, twice deflecting potent electoral challenges. By contrast, when Ferdinand Marcos abandoned the Nacionalista Party after 1972, he fueled the movement that would subsequently oust him. The efficacy of opposition parties Semangat '46 and United Nationalist Democratic Opposition (UNIDO) was thus heavily imbricated with the institutions of the regimes they challenged and less contingent on short-term electoral politics.

scholarly journals An outbreak of COVID-19 associated with a fitness centre in Saskatchewan: Lessons for prevention

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 485-490
Author(s):  
Maureen Anderson ◽  
Ashok Chhetri ◽  
Edith Halyk ◽  
Amanda Lang ◽  
Ryan McDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High School ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Infectious Period ◽  
Epidemiological Methods ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Fitness Facility

Background: An outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred in Saskatchewan from September 12 to October 20, 2020. The index event, attendance at a local gym, seeded six additional clusters/outbreaks in multiple settings. These included a high school, a hospital, three workplaces (A, B and C) and several households. The overall cluster comprised 63 cases, 27 gym members and an additional 36 second, third and fourth generation cases. Methods: All outbreak-related, laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were included in the analysis. Local public health authorities interviewed all cases and contacts and conducted environmental investigations of the fitness facility. We used descriptive epidemiological methods to understand transmission dynamics of the gym-associated cluster using case investigation, contact investigation and laboratory data, including whole genome sequencing. Results: Sequencing data confirmed the unique lineage of cluster-related cases (n=32 sequenced; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] lineage B.1.1.72). In addition to gym attendance, infectious cases attended high school and were involved in other activities. Despite ongoing transmission in the fitness facility, no secondary cases were identified in the high school where four student belonging to the cluster attended class during their infectious period. Conclusion: We describe an outbreak of COVID-19 where the index case(s) attended a fitness facility, and further spread occurred for 38 days despite active-case finding and isolation of positive cases over this period. Due to gym attendance over time, short-term closing and cleaning may not interrupt chains of transmission. Targeted, preventive public health action in fitness facilities may be warranted. Control measures worked to limit in-school acquisition.

Singapore ruling party faces critical contest

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
September 11 ◽  
General Election ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Founding Father ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The City ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Outlook for Singapore's 2015 general election. Significance Singapore will hold a general election on September 11, its first since the death of the city-state's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has braced his long-incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) for a more difficult contest at the polls than in 2011, with opposition parties expected to better the 10% share of parliamentary seats they held on the dissolution of parliament on August 25. Impacts The People's Action Party will need to define a post-Lee Kuan Yew legacy. The post-September government will need to balance popular concern over foreign workers with Singapore's need for labour. Singaporean electoral politics will become increasingly competitive.

Oromo coalition will trouble Ethiopia’s ruling party

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Prime Minister ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Electoral System ◽  
Coalition Building ◽  
National Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Home State ◽  
Democratic Dialogue ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Subject Coalition-building ahead of Ethiopia's 2020 elections. Significance Following months of negotiations, the leaders of the three biggest Oromo opposition parties -- the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Oromo National Party (ONP) -- on January 3 announced the formation of the Coalition for Democratic Federalism (CDF). This new platform will pose a serious electoral challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s newly formed Prosperity Party (formerly the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)) in Oromia, Abiy’s home state. Impacts As the OFC is already a member of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue in Ethiopia (MEDREK) opposition alliance, the CDF may also join. Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system will encourage further coalition-building, especially among opposition parties. If the CDF pushes claims of Oromo ‘ownership’ over Addis Ababa, this would complicate relations with other actors.

Guyana election doubts spark international concern

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Community ◽  
Focus Attention ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Oil Revenues ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance These results indicate that the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) coalition has narrowly won re-election, returning David Granger as president for another term. However, opposition parties have contested the results, with the international community also voicing concerns about the conduct and outcome of the elections. Impacts The contested election count is likely to lead to an overhaul of GECOM staffing and procedures once the current dispute is settled. Companies are set to hold off new investments in Guyana until the incoming government and policy stance are confirmed. The fraud allegations will also focus attention on May elections in neighbouring Suriname, whose ruling party is also seeking re-election. Control over expected windfall oil revenues will make this election result especially hotly contested.

Explaining Hungary's powerful Constitutional Court: a bargaining approach

2001 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN W. SCHIEMANN
Keyword(s):  
Round Table ◽  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
Institutional Choice ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Bargaining Model ◽  
Key Participants ◽  
Bargaining Approach ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
Opposition Parties

Chosen during its negotiated transition to democracy in 1989, Hungary's Constitutional Court has emerged as one of the most powerful institutions of its kind. Drawing on round table transcripts and interviews with key participants, this paper presents a bargaining model of institutional choice that demonstrates how the greater patience of the opposition parties forced the ruling party to make significant concessions that increased the authority and independence of the court.

Kishida's 'new capitalism' revives old agenda

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Security ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Priority ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
New Capitalism ◽  
Ruling Party ◽  
The Way ◽  
Opposition Parties

Significance The ruling party lost seats, but not as many as predicted and it retains a comfortable majority. This clears the way for Kishida to set about implementing his economic promise: a 'new capitalism' with a greater emphasis on redistribution. Impacts The first priority is tackling COVID-19 and measures directed toward preparing for a future pandemic based on lessons learned from this one. Kishida will maintain his predecessor's focus on digitising government and society, helping Japan catch up in this crucial area. Kishida will make economic security vis-a-vis China a new national priority, entrenching the bilateral rivalry. Endorsement (if not implementation) of a centre-left agenda makes it harder for opposition parties to differentiate themselves.

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