Inequality and Sequence of Economic Liberalization and Democratization

Some recent empirical studies found positive effects of economic liberalization on democratization. Based on these findings, this paper explains why the sequence of economic liberalization and democratization is related to the effects of the two reforms on economic performance. Since economic liberalization increases the probability of democratization and democratization leads to income redistribution, in an economy with large inequality between the elite and the poor, the elite do not implement economic liberalization, and democratization occurs first. In such an economy, the effects of economic liberalization and democratization are lower because of distortions caused by large-scale income redistribution.

Bringing politics back in: examining the link between globalization and democratization

This article considers current explanations of the link between globalization and democratization in light of an empirical case study: that of a 1998-99 campaign led by Egyptian NGOs against government restrictions on the freedom of association. The article calls attention to the need to 'bring politics back in' to theories of the link between globalization and democratization, by studying the political strategies of actors, the longer-term local, historical context against which these strategies are formed and their impact upon existing relations of power. The first part of this article reviews some of the major arguments regarding the link between globalization and democratization in order to highlight their focus on structural changes in explaining democratization. The second part proposes an alternative explanatory framework, based on the Gramscian concepts of hegemony and counter-hegemony. The third and fourth parts operationalize this framework through presenting the context for the actions of NGOs in Egypt and the case study of NGO efforts for greater democratization. Finally, the conclusion brings together the conceptual and empirical discussions

INEQUALITY AND SEQUENCE OF ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION AND DEMOCRATIZATION

Some recent empirical studies found positive effects of economic liberalization on democratization. Based on these findings, this paper explains why the sequence of economic liberalization and democratization is related to the effects of the two reforms on economic performance. Since economic liberalization increases the probability of democratization and democratization leads to income redistribution, in an economy with large inequality between the elite and the poor, the elite do not implement economic liberalization, and democratization occurs first. In such an economy, the effects of economic liberalization and democratization are lower because of distortions caused by large-scale income redistribution.Economic Liberalization, Democratization, Income Distribution, Dictatorship

The multi-layered nature of the internet-based democratization of brand management

The evolution of the internet, including developments such as Web 2.0, has led to new relationship realities between organizations and their stakeholders. One manifestation of these complex new realities has been the emergence of an internet-based democratization of brand management. Research about this phenomenon has so far mainly focused on investigating just one or more individual themes and thereby disregarded the inherent multi-layered nature of the internet-based democratization of brand management as a holistic, socio-technological phenomenon. The aim of this paper is to address this limitation through an investigation of the various socio-technological democratization developments of the phenomenon. To achieve this aim, a balanced and stakeholder-oriented perspective on brand management has been adopted to conduct an integrative literature review. The review reveals three key developments, which together form the essential parts of the phenomenon: (I) the democratization of internet technology, (II) the democratization of information, and (III) the democratization of social capital. The insights gained help to clarify the basic structures of the multi-layered phenomenon. The findings contribute also to the substantiation of a call for a new brand management paradigm: one that takes not only company-initiated but also stakeholder-initiated brand management activities into accoun

Female Leadership and Democratization in Local Politics Since 2005: Trend, Prospect, and Reflection in Indonesia

Analisis dan refleksi mengenai perkembangan demokratisasi di Indonesia pasca-OrdeBaru (setelah lengsernya Suharto sejak Mei 1998) dapat ditinjau dari perkembangandemokratisasi di tingkat lokal. Kebijakan desentralisasi baru, khususnya mengenaimekanisme pemilihan kepala daerah secara langsung (pemilukada langsung) sejaktahun 2005, merupakan salah satu rangkaian demokratisasi di tingkat lokal. Tulisanini menganalisis demokratisasi di tingkat lokal, khususnya melihat dampak pemilukadalangsung terhadap peran politik dan kepemimpinan perempuan. menganalisis tatacara pemilihan kepala daerah sesuai ketentuan UU No. 32/2004 dan data jumlah kandidat perempuan yang mencalonkan diri dalam pemilukada langsung sejak tahun 2005memberikan gambaran tren, karakteristik, dan prospek kepemimpinan perempuanyang muncul di tingkat lokal. Analisis terhadap tren dan karakteristik kepemimpinan perempuan di tingkat lokal sebagai dampak positif demokratisasi di Indonesiamerefleksikan pemahaman baru tentang peran agama (khususnya Islam), gender, danhubungan kekerabatan (familial ties) sebagai faktor penting yang ditemukan dibalikfenomena politik tersebut

Democratization, Violent Social Conflicts, and Growth

This paper investigates the empirical role of violent conflicts for the causal effect of democracy on economic growth. Exploiting within-country variation to identify the effect of democratization during the "Third Wave", we find evidence that the effect of democratization is weaker than reported previously once one accounts for the incidence of conflict, while the incidence of conflict itself significantly reduces growth. The results show in turn that permanent democratic transitions significantly reduce the incidence and onset of conflict, which suggests that part of the positive growth effect of democratization arises because democratization reduces conflict incidence. When accounting for the role of violence during democratization, we find evidence that peaceful transitions to democracy have a significant positive effect on growth that is even larger than reported in the previous literature, while violent transitions to democracy have no, or even negative, effects on economic growth.Democratization, Armed Conict, Civil War, Economic Growth, Democratization Scenario, Peaceful Transition.

The Politics of Democratizing Finance: A Radical View

How can finance be durably democratized? In the centers of financial power in both the United States and the United Kingdom, proposals now circulate to give workers and the public more say over how flows of credit are allocated. This article examines five democratization proposals: credit union franchises, public investment banks, sovereign wealth funds, inclusive ownership funds, and bank nationalization. It considers how these plans might activate worker and public engagement in decision making about finance by focusing on three modes of public participation: representative democracy, direct democracy, and deliberative minipublics. It then considers the degree to which democratization plans might be resilient to de-democratization threats from business. It argues that of the five, bank nationalization goes furthest in guarding against de-democratization threats but is still pocked with pitfalls if it relies solely on representative democracy. It argues that two criteria appear necessary for democratically durable alternatives: the active direct participation of workers and citizens and the weakening of businesses’ capacity for democratic retrenchment. finance, democracy, labor, credit, business powe

Political strategies of external support for democratization

Political strategies of external support to democratization are contrasted and critically examined in respect of the United States and European Union. The analysis begins by defining its terms of reference and addresses the question of what it means to have a strategy. The account briefly notes the goals lying behind democratization support and their relationship with the wider foreign policy process, before considering what a successful strategy would look like and how that relates to the selection of candidates. The literature's attempts to identify strategy and its recommendations for better strategies are compared and assessed. Overall, the article argues that the question of political strategies of external support for democratization raises several distinct but related issues including the who?, what?, why?, and how? On one level, strategic choices can be expected to echo the comparative advantage of the "supporter." On a different level, the strategies cannot be divorced from the larger foreign policy framework. While it is correct to say that any sound strategy for support should be grounded in a theoretical understanding of democratization, the literature on strategies reveals something even more fundamental: divergent views about the nature of politics itself. The recommendations there certainly pinpoint weaknesses in the actual strategies of the United States and Europe but they have their own limitations too. In particular, in a world of increasing multi-level governance strategies for supporting democratization should go beyond preoccupation with just an "outside-in" approach

Democracy and Income In-Equality: An Empirical Analysis

While standard political economy theories suggest a moderating effect of democratization on income inequality, empirical literature has failed to uncover any such robust relationship. Here we take yet another look at this issue arguing first, that prevailing ideology may be an important determinant of inequality and, second, that the democratization effect “works through” ideology. In societies where equality is highly valued there is less of a distributional conflict across income groups, hence democratization may have only a negligible effect on inequality. On the other hand, in societies where equality is not valued as much, democratization reduces inequality through redistribution as the poor outvote the rich. Our cross-country empirical analysis, covering the period 1960-98 and 126 countries, confirms the hypothesis: ideology – as proxied by a country’s dominant religion – seems to be related to inequality. But in addition, in Judeo-Christian societies increased democratization appears to lead to lower inequality, while in Muslim and Confucian societies democratization has only an insignificant effect on inequality. We hypothesize that in the latter group of countries, desired level of inequality is reached through informal transfers, while in Judeo-Christian societies where family ties are weaker, desired outcome is achieved by political action.Inequality, democracy, religion

Do Rural Community Colleges Supply Unique Educational Benefits?

Community colleges likely draw to college individuals who would otherwise not attend due to their low costs and open admission requirements. This is labeled as the democratization effect. They may also divert individuals away from 4-year to terminal 2-year college degrees (the diversion effect). This study estimates democratization and diversion effects separately for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan youth using nationally representative data and models that account for endogenous institution selection. We find the democratization effect to exceed the diversion effect of community colleges for both metro and nonmetro youth. The democratization-diversion ratio is slightly higher for urban youth.rural, colleges, education, diversion, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, I21, R0,