Do party-states transform by learning? The structural background of the different transformation paths in view of the Romanian, Hungarian and Chinese cases

Through the introduction of a comparative party-state model, I will first demonstrate that due to specific structural and dynamic constraints, the capacity of party-states to learn is both limited and uneven. Differences in the room for manoeuvre are defined by structural and dynamic specifics of power distribution. These will determine the invariable implementation of structurespecific instruments of resource extraction and distribution and their escalation under external pressure no matter the requirements of adaptation. Accelerated implementation of structure-specific instruments leads to different paths of self-destruction rather than adaptation. Adaptation is therefore structurally constrained and self-consuming in party-states. Second,these theoretical arguments will be empirically demonstrated through the economic policy efforts to adapt to market pressures in three radically different party-states - Romania, Hungary by the end of the 1980s and China from early 1990s.party-state systems, communist systems, comparative partystate model, patterns of power distribution, transformation paths, reforms, collapse, Romania, Hungary, China

Budget constraints in party-states nested in power relations: the key to different paths of transformation

This paper revisits the widely known and used concept of soft budget constraints in party-states introduced by Kornai (1980), from the point of view of a comparative analytical model (Csanádi, 2003). It embeds budget constraints in the structure of power relations described by the model as the interactive structure of interrelations between party-, state- and economic decision-makers on the level of individual actors. In this respect, we argue, that soft budget constraints will acquire several new structure-specific traits presented in the paper that are worth to consider. The new properties of budget constraints nested in power relations will define the selectively soft and hard constraints of self-reproduction of the net. The distribution of power will define the dynamics of reproduction of the structure as a whole. The differences in the distribution of power will be responsible for the frequency of its hardening reproduction constraints. Soft and hard reproduction constraints and its dynamics in different power distributions will contribute to several theoretical conclusions concerning the selfsimilarities and structural differences in the operation and different paths of disintegration, collapse and transformations of party-states.communism, socialism, party-state system, comparative model, soft budget constraint, selectivity, reproduction constraints, disintegration, collapse, transformation

Varieties of System Transformations and Their Structural Background Based on the IPS Model

This study is the theoretical chapter of a planned book. This book, aims to contribute to the theoretical foundations of similarities and differences in the transformation of party-state systems. Analytical framework of system transformation is based on the extension of the Interactive Party State model (Csan di, 2006) where specifics of the structure and operation of party-state systems and structural background of their disparities were described and analyzed. Self-similarities and disparities of transformation and path-dependency of the variety of systemic outcomes are assigned to structural characteristics of power distribution of party-state systems interpreted as networks. The empirical part of the book uses the Chinese case to test this theory, measuring the dynamics of system transformation, the consequences of short- and long-term external adaptation pressures on the system transformation and long-term consequences of the short-term reactions to these pressures and their spatial disparities. This research was supported by the National Research Foundation in Hungary.system transformation, economic transformation political transformation, sequence of transformation, disparities of transformation, varieties of system outcomes, party-state network

Institutional Reactions to the Impact of Global Crisis at Source and Destination Cities of Migration in China

This paper relates on the impact of global crisis on China from a systemic point of view. In what ways external and internal adaptation pressures influenced the transformation of the party-state system in China? Did reactions have an impact on the transformation of political or economic system? The purpose of our small field research was to respond to this question by examining institutional reactions to crisis from late 2008 to late 2009. We have examined the common and disparate characteristics of institutional adaptation at prefecture level at sources and destination cities of migration. We have also tried to detect their common or different sensitivity to crisis analyzing the periods before, during and after the crisis. We shall reflect on the reasons of prevailing political stability despite sudden large unemployment, and substantial economic, social and political impact on the party-state system. The paper uses interviews in 13 prefectures and newspaper analysis of 16 prefectures from mid 2008 to the end of 2009 complemented by available relevant statistical data.system transformation, global crisis, migration, economic policy reactions,prefectures

Transformation of the Chinese party-state at prefecture and county level

The study describes the acceleration of the disintegration and withdrawal of the party-state network and transformation of the system on national level, and empirically surveys the impact of the hardening reproduction constraints of the party-state network since 1994 in three Chinese prefectures and six counties. We track the reactions to the hardening reproduction constraints at these levels and the consequences of these reactions on the transformation of the party-state network at those levels. We make an effort to demonstrate the differences in impact, reactions and consequences among the given administrative levels and between them. We also try to detect how does this process change the relationship among the actors within the net (party-state and economic decision-makers) and between those within and outside the net. The survey is based on the implementation of the Interactive Party-State model (Csanádi, 1997, 2003) that serves as a device and approach for comparative empirical analysis. The surveyed prefectures and counties provided a test-field for the postulates of the model. More than 70 interviews with provincial, prefecture and county level party- and state officials, different level statistics, national and local level documents and secondary sources forged the raw material for the study.

Do party-states transform by learning? The structural background of the different transformation paths in view of the Romanian, Hungarian and Chinese cases

Through the introduction of a comparative party-state model, I will first demonstrate that due to specific structural and dynamic constraints, the capacity of party-states to learn is both limited and uneven. Differences in the room for manoeuvre are defined by structural and dynamic specifics of power distribution. These will determine the invariable implementation of structurespecific instruments of resource extraction and distribution and their escalation under external pressure no matter the requirements of adaptation. Accelerated implementation of structure-specific instruments leads to different paths of self-destruction rather than adaptation. Adaptation is therefore structurally constrained and self-consuming in party-states. Second,these theoretical arguments will be empirically demonstrated through the economic policy efforts to adapt to market pressures in three radically different party-states - Romania, Hungary by the end of the 1980s and China from early 1990s

Budget constraints in party-states nested in power relations: the key to different paths of transformation

This paper revisits the widely known and used concept of soft budget constraints in party-states introduced by Kornai (1980), from the point of view of a comparative analytical model (Csanádi, 2003). It embeds budget constraints in the structure of power relations described by the model as the interactive structure of interrelations between party-, state- and economic decision-makers on the level of individual actors. In this respect, we argue, that soft budget constraints will acquire several new structure-specific traits presented in the paper that are worth to consider. The new properties of budget constraints nested in power relations will define the selectively soft and hard constraints of self-reproduction of the net. The distribution of power will define the dynamics of reproduction of the structure as a whole. The differences in the distribution of power will be responsible for the frequency of its hardening reproduction constraints. Soft and hard reproduction constraints and its dynamics in different power distributions will contribute to several theoretical conclusions concerning the selfsimilarities and structural differences in the operation and different paths of disintegration, collapse and transformations of party-states

A comparative model of party-states: the structural reasons behind similarities and differences in self-reproduction, reforms and transformation

This paper draws up an empirically based comparative analytical model called by its constructor as the Interactive party-state model (IPS). It details the elements, the principles of connection of these elements and the principle of operation of the whole party-state construct. It also defines the specific principles of operation based on the characteristics of the structure, the specific motivations and behavior deriving from those. The model reveals the structural reasons of the differences in power distribution and describes how these structural differences imply different frequency of meeting structural constraints for reproduction, different time-span for recreating cohesion and different means of resource acquisition for selfreproduction, leading to different paths of development and transformation. The IPS model points to the consequences of these different dynamics on the location, pace, sequence of reforms and the regime these reforms occur

Global crisis and its implications on the political transformation in China

This paper analyzes the impact of global financial and economic crisis on the process of system transformation in China. First, it details the direct impact of global growth on macroeconomic development and its indirect impact on economic transformation. Second, it analyzes the direct impact of global crisis on macroeconomic decline and its indirect impact on the prospects of political transformation. The paper builds on the basic principles and ideas of the Interactive Party-State model to introduce the concept of transformation dynamics. This concept implies the direction and speed of change of the retreating party-state sphere and the emergence of the field outside of it during the process of transformation. Using this concept a statistical survey was carried out on the economic transformation of the Chinese party-state. Results reveal the disparities of the dynamics of transformation in time, in space, and at different levels of aggregation between 1999 and 2004. A dominant type of transformation dynamics is revealed during this period and the shift of dominant type within that period, sensitive to the trend of certain economic indicators. Based on those findings, the paper projects the dominance of another type of transformation dynamics as a result of the consequences of global crisis. It also outlines the possible impact of this dynamics on the premises of political transformation.system transformation, China, economic transformation, political transformation, spatial disparities in system transformation

Solving professional problems together

Future professionals should be prepared for scientific reasoning, i.e., to construct and apply scientific knowledge, in order to analyze and solve problems in their professional practice. Yet, future practitioners’ scientific reasoning skills often seem to be deficient when solving practical problems. This dissertation explores to what extent collaboration may foster the engagement of future practitioners in scientific reasoning: i.e., in epistemic processes (e.g., hypothesizing, evaluating evidence) and in referring to scientific content knowledge (e.g., scientific theories and evidence). Therefore, two studies were conducted to compare collaborative and individual problem solving of pre-service teachers regarding their scientific reasoning. Study 1 investigates the effect of group heterogeneity with respect to problem solving scripts on scientific reasoning. Study 2 explores to what extent Epistemic Network Analysis can serve as a methodological approach for measuring scientific reasoning. As part of Study 1, pre-service teachers solved an educational problem either as individuals (N=16) or as pairs (N=30 pairs). Collaboration showed a mixed effect on scientific reasoning processes: pairs engaged more in explaining and reasoning about the problem and drew more conclusions, while individuals engaged more in generating solutions. Additional analyses showed that the more heterogeneous pairs were regarding their members’ problem solving scripts the more they engaged in hypothesizing and evaluating evidence and the less they engaged in generating solutions. Finally, pairs less often referred to scientific content than individuals did during problem solving. Study 2 further analyzed the data by applying Epistemic Network Analysis. This method has the advantage of analyzing patterns of connections between epistemic processes, i.e., epistemic networks of scientific reasoning. The central epistemic process for pairs was evidence evaluation, which they frequently used in combination with hypothesizing and communicating and scrutinizing. On the other hand, the most characteristic process in individuals’ scientific reasoning was solution generation, which very often co-occurred with hypothesizing and evidence evaluation. The overall results indicate that if the aim is to develop a more reflective understanding of the problem, future practitioners should collaborate with each other, especially in heterogeneous settings. However, they should be supported (1) to share knowledge regarding scientific theories and evidence as well as (2) to reach a mutual understanding (e.g., by coordinating explanations) on the problem after a certain time so as to be able to have the capacity of generating solutions. Moreover, the different effects of collaboration on the process and content aspects of scientific reasoning imply that scientific reasoning might not be a unidimensional construct, and its process and content levels should be differentiated in future research. A further important methodological implication is that the process aspect of scientific reasoning can be analyzed as a network of interconnected skills and such analysis might bring more explanatory value than the mere reliance on frequencies of occurrences of isolated activities