Archive 2/2011

Abstract

Parliamentary systems of government are founded on the principle of members of a legislative party acting in toeing the party line. The aim of this article is to identify the factors influencing the level of unity of parliamentary party groups in the Czech Chamber of Deputies. As the research is a one-country study, the theoretical explanations used are party specific. Hypotheses refer to government status, party size, party system fragmentation, differences in parties’ ideological platforms, and political socialization and incumbency. This study is based on roll-call data for the 1993 to 2008 period, aggregated to legislative terms. Using an OLS regression modelling approach, this article finds support for the hypothesis that a party’s status in government influences the observed legislative party unity. However, legislative party unity declines when the size of a government’s majority increases and the chances of losing a roll-call vote decline. Moreover, there is weaker evidence regarding the influence of party size on party unity. In short, legislative party politics in the Czech Chamber of Deputies is strongly determined by government and opposition competitiveness.

Key words

parliamentary party groups – party discipline – party unity – party cohesion – Rice index

Abstract

The paper analyses both the conflict between the federal government and organized crime groups, and the war between the organized crime groups themselves in Mexico at the beginning of the 21st century. The analytical framework consists of the analysis of violence and the dynamics of the conflicts according to the theoretical background defined by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. The article briefly discusses the history of conflict, the relevant actors, incompatibility of values, the dynamics of clashes and possible solutions.

Key words

Mexico, organized crime, conflict, war, UCDP, drugs

Abstract

The authors of this contribution give a detailed account of the territorial and participatory aspects of the reform of Slovene local self-government and analyse its effects on the further development of local democracy. Special emphasis is given to studying the fragmentation of Slovene municipalities and to the issue of regionalisation, since tendencies towards the establishment of a two-tier form of local self-government have been present in the Slovene politico-administrative space for a long time. The scope of access to, or the right of all citizens to participate in decision-making on local public matters is another important aspect of studying the degree of democracy at the local level. The authors demonstrate this in the light of the expansion of the right in political participation by members of the Italian and Hungarian national communities and by members of the ethnic Roma community, as well as through the analysis of the actual political participation of all groups in the population, whilst not omitting to mention the development of civil-society participation, which is becoming ever more apparent at the local level.

Key words

democracy, reform, territorial order, regionalisation, political participation, civil-society participation

Abstract

The consolidation of the Czech left was an important part of the development of the Czech party system after 1989. The Left in political space can be defined as the tendency to promote societal homogenization at the expense of societal stratification and to support governmental engagement in the economy and social security issues. The major forms of left politics in the Czech political spectrum are social democracy, communism, democratic socialism, national socialism, leftist green politics and non-ideological and single-issue left wing populism. Since the middle of the 90s, the social democratic party (ČSSD) has occupied the left-centre space and the non-reformed communist party (KSČM) the far left space. The position of the KSCM is the result of strong support for the communist regime among sections of the public at the end of the 1980s (the KSC achieved its best electoral results in 1990). The internal consolidation of the ČSSD was a necessary condition for its rise after 1993 at the expense of the Czechoslovak Socialist Party and other left-wing and centre parties. The ČSSD is not only the authentic successor of historical and exile social democracy, but also the partial legacy of the 1968 reformist communism (including ex-OF and ex-OH quasi-liberal legacy) and leftist Czech national socialism. The left spectrum has been relatively stable since 1996 (in the sense of relevant subjects); by contrast, the rightist-centre has changed its representation. The definitive stabilization of the left depends on the establishment of a model of cooperation between the CSSD and the KSCM at governmental level, the future development of the KSCM, and the possible rise of the new left-wing parties. According to the author, three future scenarios are possible: a) the continued separate existence of the ČSSD and the KSČM, b) the establishment of a far left block (with the KSČM) or c) the rise of a new left-wing populist party.

Key words

party system, consolidation, left, Czech Republic

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the causes behind the electoral success of the Sweden Democrats, the radical right-wing populist party in Sweden that gained parliamentary representation in the 2010 elections. The article argues that the causes of its success should be looked for not only in favourable political conditions (e.g. the continuing saliency of the immigration issue, growing electoral volatility and decreasing partisan identification), but above all in the party’s strategy – a new master frame, the politicization of the immigration issue, and the strengthening of the party’s organization. The Sweden Democrats have moderated their party program and, to a large extent, rid themselves of the stigma that resulted from their origins and their connection to neo-Nazi movements. They have also skilfully used media attention and succeeded in politicizing their major issue – immigration. Another reason for their success lies in their establishment of party apparatus at the municipal and regional levels.

Key words

Sweden, radical right-wing populist parties, the Sweden Democrats

Abstract

Jakub Končelík, Pavel Večeřa a Petr Orság. 2010. Dějiny českých médií 20. století, Praha: Portál, 312 pages.

Key words

Abstract

Lavinia Stan (ed.). 2009. Transitional Justice in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Reckoning with the Communist Past, New York: Routledge, 299 pages.

Key words

Abstract

Raj Chari, John Hogan a Gary Murphy. 2010. Regulating Lobbying: A Global Comparison, Manchester/New York: Manchester University Press, 196 pages.

Key words