Archive 3/2003

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the activities of Transparency International - a transnational non-governmental organization that plays a crucial role in the fight against corruption. The article primarily focuses on the interactions between the Czech chapter of Transparency International and local political actors in the Czech Republic. Immediately after its estabilishment in 1998 the Czech chapter received a high level of attention from the Czech political authorities and since then there has been intense cooperation between Transparency International and political authorities. In order to explain this mode of successful cooperation, the article turns to theoretical tools provided mainly by the theory of social movements. I employ the notion of political opportunity structure, define it internationally, and claim that in the case of the anticorruption struggle the international political opportunity structure that facilitated the access of Transparency International to the Czech political system has been formed by the influence of the European Union on the Czech Republic. EU conditionally in Eastern Europe has pushed the internationally recognized anticorruption norm high on the agenda. It has thereby changed the configuration of domestic opportunities in the Czech political field in a way that empowered Transparency International to engage in successful cooperation with the political authorities. The estabilished global anticorruption norm provided the political claims of Transparency International with legitimacy. Therefore, before analyzing the activities of Transparency International in the Czech Republic, the article describes the process of institutionalization of the global anticorruption norm.

Key words

anticorruption struggle, Transparency International, transnational non-governmental organizations, international norms, political opportunity structure, EU conditionally, international pressure.

Abstract

This article analyzes the evolution of the party system and parties in Denmark during the 20th century. Special attention is focused on the phenomena of "freezing" and "unfreezing" of the party system between the 1920s and the 1960s. Although "unfreezing" of the party system, which was demonstrated by 1973 elections, led to the explosive and massive increase in the number of parties, the system (type) change was temporary. It is beyond doubt that Sartori's format of the limited pluralism was transformed to the extreme pluralism. However, the type of the party system returned to the earlier moderate pluralism in the 1980s. Similarly to other Western European countries, the organisation of Danish political parties has changed. They have moved from mass parties with close linkages to social classes and interest groups (the best example would be the connection between social democratic party and trade unions) to more open formations that display catch-all features. Also, new political issues influenced the configuration of the party system. Special importance was assigned to the membership in the European Community, immigration issue, postmaterialistic values, reform of the welfare state (and progressive tax) and revitalisation of the church-state division. However, the traditional right-left axis keeps its significance.

Key words

Denmark, party system, parties, elections.

Abstract

The article examines May 2003 federal election results in Belgium. These elections send four main messages. First, a comeback of socialists parties (PS, PS.A-Spirit), which are the main winners of these elections, is evident. Second, ecological parties (Ecolo, Agalev) suffered a big loss. Third, the Flemish populists party Flemish Block (Vlaams Blok) is again gaining power. Fourth, a stable government will be formed in Belgium.

Key words

Belgium, federal election, political parties, Flemish Block, Guy Verhofstadt.

Abstract

This article examines various approaches to identification of party families. It is stressed that three kinds of criteria - sociological, institutional and voluntaristic - need to be examined in order to identify existing party families in East-Central Europe. A brief overview of estabilished poliitcal parties is given to illustrate the applicability to the conceptual framework to the Slovak case. The article concludes with assertion that comprehensive elaboration of case studies of East-Central European states must take place before any definitive answer to the problem of whether western party families are fully applicable to this region.

Key words

Party family, sociological, institutional and voluntaristic factors.

Abstract

Political science in Central and Eastern Europe was estabilished only after the fall of communist regimes at the end of the 1980s. Therefore, it was primarily based on theories and conceptions coming from Western Europe and Northern America. In the research of political parties and party systems in post-communist Europe firstly the descriptive method was used, later - since the half of the 1990s - theoretical conceptions, in the first place the concept of cleavages and party families, were employed. However, as the forms of political parties in Western Europe differ from those in Eastern Europe, the application of these conceptions in the context of Central and Eastern Europe could be quite difficult. Western political scientists have been trying to use their concepts in culturally different arenas. Accordingly, this could result in ethnocentric approaches to Central and Eastern European political parties and party systems. The conception of party families could be singled out as an example of a futile application of Western political theories in post-communist Europe. In the article problems related to the application of the party families theory are demonstrated on the basis of Republic Slovenia.

Key words

Ethnocentrism in political science, party families, Eastern Europe, Republic Slovenia.

Abstract

This article deals with an important topic of the research methodology of the Central and Eastern European political parties. There are many difficulties related to this research; for example, we cannot automatically apply classical theories developed by "Western" political science in the region. The local circumstances do not allow us to use them without adaptation to specific conditions of post-communist transformation. Another problem is that we cannot study Central and Eastern Europe as an integral region. There are too many political, social, economic and historical specifities and differences. Therefore, it is hard to produce analysis instead of descriptions. First, we should know history of these countries; second, we should choose adequate methodology. Third, we should do case studies in order to know the actual situation in all countries of the region and finally, after all these steps are made, we can try to make analysis of the region as a unitary entity.

Key words

Central and Eastern Europe, comparative politics, methodology, political parties and party systems, terminology, theories of parties and party systems.

Abstract

This is a review essay on the new book about right-wing extremism and radicalism in the Czech Republic Pravicový extremismus a radikalismus v České republice (Right-wing Extremism and Radicalism in the Czech Republic) by M. Mareš. One of the goal of this text is a critical discussion of theoretical concepts used in the "theory of extremism". From the point of view of the study of extremism right-wing radicals form one of the most interesting (and dangerous) political players in Czech politics. The book Pravicový extremismus a radikalismus v České republice is an important (and thus far the longest) text in this research field available in Czech language.

Key words

Radicalism, review essay, ultra-right, theory of extremism.

Abstract

Michal Kubát (2003): Postkomunismus a demokracie. Politika ve středovýchodní Evropě, Praha: Dokořán, 126 pages.

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R. C. Tripathi, (Ed.) (2002): Second Chambers. Bicameralism Today, New Dehli, 272 pages.

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Karel Vodička, Ladislav Cabada (2003): Politický systém České republiky. Historie a současnost, Praha: Portál, 351 pages.

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Václav Mezřický (Ed.) (2003): Globalizace, Praha: Portál, 152 pages.

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Conference.

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Conference.