Issue published: 30 June 2012

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Women’s Representation in European Parliamentary Elections: A Second-Order Approach?

Jan Kovář and Kamil Kovář, p. 5–34

Abstract: Elections to the European Parliament (EP) fall within the category of second-order national elections. Given the fact that these types of elections do not lead to the formation of government there is less at stake and, as a result, voters behave differently when casting their ballots. But what about political parties: do they also perceive the less-at-stake character of second-order elections ina similar fashion as voters and hence behave differently as well? This article draws on available electoral data related to women’s representation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to explicitly link the second-order election model to independent actions of political parties. The results show that women candidates have (1) more positions and better ranking on ballot lists (equality of opportunities) as well as (2) better chances of getting elected (equality of results) when running in SOEs. Political parties remain the primary gate-keepers to political office and increasing women’s political representation will depend on whether they have a strategic incentive to promote women and to improve their chances of being elected. In this sense, the EP is a key space for the promotion of women, given the second-order character of EP elections.

Keywords: European Parliament, second-order elections, political parties, women’s representation, first-order elections

Making and Breaking Political Legitimacyin Post-Communist Democracies: The Quality of Government Effect

Jonas Linde, p. 35–63

Abstract: Despite a broad consensus about the importance of overcoming ‘bad governance’ in order to legitimise new democratic regimes, mainstream research on democratisation and political support has tended to emphasise the importance of formal democratic institutions such as elections and political representation, while to a large extent overlooking the out put-side of the political system. However, this article argues and provides empirical evidence of the fact that the legitimacy ofthe political system is created on the output-side of the political system. Legitimacy thus depends on how citizens evaluate the procedural fairness, or the ‘quality of government’, of the political system. Drawing on large-scale cross-national survey data, the article presents evidence on how post-communist publics perceive and evaluate the fairness, impartiality and the extent of corruption among public officials and politicians. Statistical analysis shows that citizens’ perceptions of fair treatment from the authorities and the extent of corruption among public officials exercise a substantial impact on support for the principles and performance of the democratic political system.

Keywords: legitimacy, political support, quality of government, procedural fairness, regime performance, regime principles

Party Membership in East Central Europe

Ladislav Cabada, p. 64–83

Abstract: Party membership became one of the important indicators of political participation level and quality in the Western democracies. After the fall of the communist regimes in East central Europe, also the new democracies in the region were included into the comparative research of party membership showing important differences and specifics next to the traditional democratic states. The aim of our article is to analyse the contemporary situation in party membership development in East Central Europe. As the analytical framework for the discussion we use the political participation models. Next to the party membership itself we analyse also the related issues such as party-state relations development, overparticisation and alternatives that might revitalise the political communication between the state and the citizen.

Keywords: political parties, party membership, political participation, East Central Europe

Ten Years of Equitable Representation in Macedonia: Affirmative Action Policies in Need of Remodeling

Zhidas Daskalovski and Marija Risteska, p. 84–106

Abstract: In multiethnic societies liberals are concerned about outcomes in which people have fewer resources and opportunities than others when this is due which people have fewer resources and opportunities than others when this is due to circumstances that they had no responsibility for causing. In this context demands by members of systematically and long term disadvantaged ethnocultural minorities for a form of an affirmative action are justifiable. However, once the effects of the long term oppression are mitigated, the provisions for special measuresare redundant. This paper discusses the implementation of the principle of “just and equitable representation of non-majority communities”, an affirmative action style of policy in the Republic of Macedonia. It will argue that now, ten years since the principle was agreed upon by the policy makers in the country, it is in need of re-evaluation and modification to take into consideration the results achieved so far, and the various problems of implementation such as the deficiencies regarding the integration of the smaller minorities such as the Roma.

Keywords: justice in multiethnic societies, affirmative action, Macedonia, Ohrid Agreement, principle of just and equitable representation

DISCUSSION

Jaroslav Čmejrek and Blanka Wurst Hašová: EU Strategy for the Danube Region