2,036 research outputs found
Independence versus Affiliation: What Determines Entry into Parliamentary Party Groups?
Political parties are often considered essential for structuring parliamentary decisionmaking in democracies. However, many MPs experience spells of being non-affiliated
with any parliamentary party group (PPG), either because they were elected as independent candidates or left their PPGs earlier in the legislative term. Whether such
non-affiliation periods end with an entry to a PPG, which PPG the legislator enters
and how long they remain independent before the entry, as well as the reasons for these
patterns, remains relatively unknown. This paper addresses these under-researched
questions by examining PPG entry in three Central and Eastern European countries
(Lithuania, Poland, and Romania) in the last two decades. We build and test an
argument that electoral, office and policy concerns of both the MPs considering the
entry and the potential receiving parties play an important role in driving entry. Our
findings suggest that legislators’ electoral incentives as a key explanation for their PPG
affiliation decisions
Understanding the Complexity of Party Instability in Parliaments
We propose a new typology of parliamentary party switches (switching events) that focuses
on three dimensions: (1) the number of MPs and the degree of coordination, (2) the origin of switchers
and (3) the destination of switchers – a parliamentary party group (PPG) or independent status. We further
distinguish between switches with single and multiple destinations. Our approach sheds new light to party
instability in various ways. We elucidate types of party instability to emphasize the complexity of party
instability that have eluded the conceptual toolset available thus far. For example, “collective defection”
(coordinated movement from one PPG to another), “collective exit” (MPs exiting their parliamentary
group to become independent MPs) and “multi-PPG split” (coordinated moves from several PPGs to form
a new PPG). Using preliminary data compiled for Instaparty (Party Instability in Parliaments) project
from (mostly) Poland and Ireland, we find rich diversity in the forms of parliamentary party instability.
While individual defections are much more common than group defections, they are clearly more
dominant in Ireland than in Poland; furthermore, switches between PPGs (rather than between PPGs and
independent status) have been more common in Poland. Our typology is illustrated by the analysis of the
8th Polish Sejm that provides examples of nearly all single-origin switching events and of most multiorigin ones. The new typology presents the first step of our inquiry into the patterns, causes and
consequences of party switching in eight democracies (Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, the
Netherlands, Poland and Romania) from 1960s/1990s to early 2020s
Does switching pay off? The impact of parliamentary party instability on individual electoral performance
Members of parliament who change their parliamentary party group (PPG) affiliation can
be motivated by a variety of factors but the desire to improve their electoral prospects is often
argued to be the among the most important. But does switching PPG affiliation improve or damage the
electoral performance of those involved? We study the changes in electoral performance of Polish
MPs involved in parliamentary party instability since the mid-1990s using an original dataset on all
instances of switching compiled by the INSTAPARTY (Party Instability in Parliaments,
https://instapartyproject.com) project. In addition to analyzing whether the MPs run for the parliament
again in the following election, we zoom in on their electoral performance in terms of personal
preference votes. We consider the electoral dividends of different types of switching and find that the
effect of switching on personal electoral performance depends on the type of switching MPs were
involved in
Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering Studies of Elementary Excitations
In the past decade, Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) has made
remarkable progress as a spectroscopic technique. This is a direct result of
the availability of high-brilliance synchrotron X-ray radiation sources and of
advanced photon detection instrumentation. The technique's unique capability to
probe elementary excitations in complex materials by measuring their energy-,
momentum-, and polarization-dependence has brought RIXS to the forefront of
experimental photon science. We review both the experimental and theoretical
RIXS investigations of the past decade, focusing on those determining the
low-energy charge, spin, orbital and lattice excitations of solids. We present
the fundamentals of RIXS as an experimental method and then review the
theoretical state of affairs, its recent developments and discuss the different
(approximate) methods to compute the dynamical RIXS response. The last decade's
body of experimental RIXS data and its interpretation is surveyed, with an
emphasis on RIXS studies of correlated electron systems, especially transition
metal compounds. Finally, we discuss the promise that RIXS holds for the near
future, particularly in view of the advent of x-ray laser photon sources.Comment: Review, 67 pages, 44 figure
Establishing the values for patient engagement (PE) in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) research: an international, multiple-stakeholder perspective
PurposeActive patient engagement is increasingly viewed as essential to ensuring that patient-driven perspectives are considered throughout the research process. However, guidance for patient engagement (PE) in HRQoL research does not exist, the evidence-base for practice is limited, and we know relatively little about underpinning values that can impact on PE practice. This is the first study to explore the values that should underpin PE in contemporary HRQoL research to help inform future good practice guidance. MethodsA modified ‘World Café’ was hosted as a collaborative activity between patient partners, clinicians and researchers: self-nominated conference delegates participated in group discussions to explore values associated with the conduct and consequences of PE. Values were captured via post-it notes and by nominated note-takers. Data were thematically analysed: emergent themes were coded and agreement checked. Association between emergent themes, values and the Public Involvement Impact Assessment Framework were explored. ResultsEighty participants, including 12 patient partners, participated in the 90-min event. Three core values were defined: (1) building relationships; (2) improving research quality and impact; and (3) developing best practice. Participants valued the importance of building genuine, collaborative and deliberative relationships—underpinned by honesty, respect, co-learning and equity—and the impact of effective PE on research quality and relevance. Conclusions An explicit statement of values seeks to align all stakeholders on the purpose, practice and credibility of PE activities. An innovative, flexible and transparent research environment was valued as essential to developing a trustworthy evidence-base with which to underpin future guidance for good PE practice.Peer reviewe
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