Was it worth the trouble? Limited competition and citizen well-being under authoritarian rule

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-113
Author(s):  
Andrea Cassani
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Democratic Institutions ◽  
Authoritarian Rule ◽  
Electoral Authoritarianism ◽  
Ordinary Citizens

The last part of 20th century saw the collapse of a dramatic number of dictatorships. Rather than democracy, several of these transitions brought regimes where limited political competition coexists with persistently authoritarian practices. The diffusion of this form of authoritarianism in the developing world raises several questions about its broader consequences. Most importantly, does political change short of democratization matter for ordinary citizens? Recent research demonstrates that nominally democratic institutions, even in the absence of people empowerment, can result in better living conditions. The paper adds to this debate by formulating and testing new hypotheses. I compare electoral authoritarianism with democracy and full dictatorship, including specific subtypes of the latter, and focus on both policy outputs and outcomes.

Achieving Financial Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities: Exploring Preparedness and Accessibility of Financial Services for Persons With Disabilities in Malawi

2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Persons With Disabilities

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.

scholarly journals Lo que fue ya no es y lo nuevo aún no toma forma: elecciones 2006 en perspectiva histórica

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciska Raventós Vorst
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Political Change ◽  
The Political ◽  
Voting Behaviour ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Electoral Behaviour ◽  
Siglo Xx ◽  
The Relationship

RESUMEN: Este artículo analiza el proceso de cambio político que se inició en Costa Rica en 1998 y que aún no concluye, ubicándolo en el contexto de la historia política de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Revisa luego las explicaciones que se han dado para el brusco quiebre en el comportamiento electoral de 1998, analiza la relación entre abstención y declive de los dos partidos tradicionales en el período 1998-2006 y se detiene a estudiar algunos rasgos del comportamiento electoral de los ciudadanos en el 2006. Concluye planteando una interpretación preliminar sobre el momento político en que se encuentra el país.ABSTRACT: This article analyzes the process of ongoing political change that has taken place in Costa Rica since 1998. It is analyzed in the context of the political history of the second half of the 20th century. This article reviews the explanations of the sudden shift in electoral behaviour in 1998, analyzes the relationship between electoral abstention and the decline of the two traditional parties between 1998 and 2006, and it studies some characteristics of voting behaviour in 2006. The paper concludes with a preliminary interpretation of the current political situation.

scholarly journals Authority – the Enemy of Freedom?

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 186-200
Author(s):  
Tomasz Merta ◽  
Paweł Janowski
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Spontaneous Order

It is difficult to establish unequivocally why authority evokes such negative connotations. Authority’s historical manifestations, especially in the 20th century, do not contribute to the amelioration of negative sentiments. The use of authority often leads to its abuse, and though the frequency argument is not philosophically conclusive, nor can it be altogether ignored. This consonance of negative sentiments does not, however, mean that authority is not a  controversial matter. It is; but its controversiality is of a peculiar kind, in which it is not a question of whether authority is good or bad, but whether it is a lesser or a greater evil. Or more accurately, whether it is a necessary or an unnecessary evil. The diverse opinions in this matter have their origin in different anthropological visions of man. One group, which tends to be much more optimistic in its assessment of human nature, professes all authority to be superfluous. The anarchic utopia is presented as the alternative to authority, the utopia of a spontaneous order founded upon agreements established in each particular moment by the members of a given society. The second position, which is more pessimistic of human nature, sees authority as a necessary element, which superimposes order on the chaos of reality, and in so doing creates suitable living conditions by protecting humans from each other. The first conception sees authority as an enemy or, more precisely, as an unjustified destroyer of freedom. The second sees it as a strict father who protects his child for his own good, but in order to do this he justifiably restricts the child’s freedom. The dispute between these two positions is usually resolved through a process of painful reflection: the first position is rejected as being unlikely and unrealistic, while the second is accepted as uncomfortable but necessary.

scholarly journals Words and Herbs: Julian Tuwim and the Poetry of Mindfulness

2019 ◽  
pp. 229-244
Author(s):  
Joanna Roszak
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Peace Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Polish Language ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Global Peace ◽  
Mental Well Being

In this article, the author discusses the subject of pro-peace education with the use of poetry, and its influence on the mental well-being of children. She indicates Julian Tuwim as one of the Polish trailblazers of the 20th-century trend of mindfulness, which instructs how to establish a harmonious relationship with oneself and the environment. She discusses studies which focus on the methods used when working during school lessons of the Polish language; methods which employ mindful poetry. The author argues that there exists a relationship between internal equanimity and global peace.

scholarly journals Variation in the Quality of Life within Punjab: Evidence from MICS, 2007-08

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (4II) ◽  
pp. 863-879
Author(s):  
Rashida Haq Rashida Haq ◽  
Azkar Ahmed ◽  
Siama Shafique
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Final Outcome ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Level Of Living ◽  
Broad Continuum

Since quality of life research is essentially concerned with measuring and monitoring welfare. In order to measure quality of life, one must have a theory of what makes up a good life [Cobb (2000)]. There is a variety of such theories and notions of what constitutes a ‗good life‘ and correspondingly different concepts of welfare and quality of life have been developed. Various approaches and operationalisations are to be distinguished, each of which reveals a different concept of welfare and thus highlights different components and dimensions [Noll (2000)]. Among the various efforts to operationalise welfare in general and the quality of life concept in particular, two contrary approaches are to be distinguished, which define the two extreme positions on a broad continuum of concepts currently available: the Scandinavian level of living approach [Erickson (1993)] and the American quality of life approach [Campbell (1976)]. The Scandinavian approach focuses almost exclusively on resources and objective living conditions, whereas the American approach emphasises the subjective well-being of individuals as a final outcome of conditions and processes.

Questione morale e crisi di regime. La prima Repubblica italiana alla prova degli scandali (1992-1994)

2009 ◽  
pp. 27-42
Author(s):  
Jean Lpuis Briquet
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Political Impact ◽  
Before And After

- According to the standard thesis, the political crisis in Italy between 1992 and 1994 and the collapse of the Christian Democrat regime are related to the revelation of corruption of the political elite by the judiciary. However, judicial revelations and corruption scandals have regularly occurred in Italy, before and after this crisis, without provoking a drastic political change and the reject of the political system by the electorate. Considering this paradox, the article suggests an alternate account of the 1992-1994 events that underline the way in which the political competition had been affected by the scandals: the moral crusades against corruption had in this period a political impact because they had been relayed and supported by emerging political actors in order to challenge the established elites and to claim a leading role in reshaping the political system.

On the strategy for establishing a socially strong state and developing the civic and public culture of the Russian population

2020 ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Nikolay I. Lapin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Culture ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Russian Population ◽  
The Political ◽  
Social Culture ◽  
Social State ◽  
Strong State ◽  
Economic Prerequisite

Author of the article characterizes the active-reasonable foundations of the formation of wórthy living conditions of the Russian population with the participation of a socially strong state and thanks to the All-Civilian Enlightenment the foundations of a mature composite-creating culture of interactions of citizens in society. The political and economic prerequisite for a wórthy life of well-being, and on its basis – a constitutional social state. To implement it, a mature composite-creative culture of interactions of citizens in society (civil-social culture) is needed. It is necessary to start moving in this direction now - with the preparation and experimental testing of the program of the All-Civil Enlightenment, clarification of the foundations and benefits of the mature state of this culture. An initiative by social and humanities professionals to create a project for such a programme is required.

Economic persistence despite adverse policies: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Guirkinger ◽  
Gani Aldashev ◽  
Alisher Aldashev ◽  
Mate Fodor
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Material Wealth ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Generational Transmission ◽  
Relative Status ◽  
Geographic Sorting ◽  
Economic Well Being

Abstract We study the long-run persistence of relative economic well-being under adverse government policies using a combination of historical and contemporaneous data from Kyrgyzstan. After controlling for unobservable local effects, the economic well-being of Kyrgyz households in the 2010s correlates with the early 20th-century average wealth of their tribes. Inequality at the tribe level in the 2010s correlates with wealth inequality in the early 20th century. The likely channels of persistence are the inter-generational transmission of human capital, relative status, political power, and cultural traits. Transmission of material wealth, differences in natural endowments, or geographic sorting cannot explain persistence.

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