Parties, Governments and Elites: The Comparative Study of Democracy

319 Pages·2017·5.178 MB·English

by  Philipp Harfst, Ina Kubbe, Thomas Poguntke (eds.)

Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft
Philipp Harfst · Ina Kubbe 
Thomas Poguntke Editors
Parties,
Governments
and Elites
The Comparative Study of Democracy
Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft
Herausgeber/innen
Steffen Kailitz, Hannah-Arendt-Institut für Totalitarismusforschung, Dresden,
Deutschland
Susanne Pickel, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Deutschland
Claudia Wiesner, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finnland
Die Schriftenreihe „Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft“ wird im Auftrag der gleichnamigen
Sektion der Deutschen Vereinigung für Politische Wissenschaft durch Steffen Kailitz, Susanne
Pickel und Claudia Wiesner herausgegeben. Ziel der Reihe ist es, Themen, Fragestellungen,
Inhalte, Konzepte und Methoden politikwissenschaftlicher vergleichender Forschung und Lehre in
ihrer ganzen Breite zu diskutieren. Die Reihe nimmt nach einem Begutachtungsverfahren
hervorragende Arbeiten aus allen theoretischen und methodischen Richtungen der Vergleichenden
Politikwissenschaft auf.
Die Sektion „Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft“ ist eine der größten und ältesten Sektionen der
Deutschen Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft (DVPW). Der Bereich der Vergleichenden
Politikwissenschaft (Comparative Politics) deckt von der Vergleichenden Regierungslehre bzw.
dem Vergleich politischer Systeme über die Vergleichende Demokratie-, Autokratie-, Transforma-
tions- und Demokratisierungsforschung sowie die vergleichende Forschung zu Parteien und
Interessenverbänden bis hin zur Vergleichenden Policy- und Wohlfahrtsstaatsforschung ein sehr
breites Feld ab. Die Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft ist dabei in der inhaltlichen, geographischen
und methodischen Ausrichtung (qualitative und quantitative Methoden) per se pluralistisch angelegt.
Die Schriftenreihe „Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft“ bietet entsprechend der Ausrichtung
und den Zielen der Sektion ein Forum für alle Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler, die sich
in Forschung und Lehre mit Themen und Fragestellungen aller Teilbereiche der Vergleichenden
Politikwissenschaft befassen. Die Reihe steht damit explizit Beiträgen aus allen theoretischen und
methodischen Zugängen der Vergleichenden Politikwissenschaft offen, und es sind sowohl
theoretisch und/oder konzeptionell, empirisch und auch methodisch ausgerichtete Schriften
willkommen. Entsprechend der Internationalität der Vergleichenden Politikwissenschaft versteht
sie sich auch als ein internationales Forum des wissenschaftlichen Diskurses. In der Reihe
erscheinen deutsch- wie englischsprachige Bänder.
Die Qualität der Beiträge der Sektionsreihe wird durch den Herausgeberkreis sowie einen wissen-
schaftlichen Beirat gesichert. Ihm dankt der Herausgeberkreis für seine engagierte Arbeit.
Dem wissenschaftlichen Beirat gehören an:
Dirk Berg-Schlosser (Philipps-Universität Marburg),
Patrick Bernhagen (Universität Stuttgart),
Claudia Derichs (Philipps-Universität Marburg),
Rolf Frankenberger (Universität Tübingen),
Michael Hein (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin),
Niilo Kauppi (University of Jyväskylä),
Marianne Kneuer (Universität Hildesheim),
Michèle Knodt (Technische Universität Darmstadt),
Sabine Kropp (Freie Universität Berlin),
Ina Kubbe (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg),
Hans-Joachim Lauth (Universität Würzburg),
Anja Mihr (The Hague Institute for Global Justice),
Clara Portela (Singapore Management University),
Svend-Erik Skaaning (Universität Aarhus),
Toralf Stark (Universität Duisburg-Essen),
Brigitte Weiffen (Universidade de São Paulo),
Stefan Wurster (Universität Heidelberg).
Weitere Bände in dieser Reihe http://www.springer.com/series/13436
Philipp Harfst · Ina Kubbe · Thomas Poguntke
(Eds.)
Parties, Governments
and Elites
The Comparative Study of Democracy
Editors
Philipp Harfst Thomas Poguntke
Salzburg, Austria Düsseldorf, Germany
Ina Kubbe
Tel Aviv, Israel
Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft
ISBN 978-3-658-17445-3 ISBN 978-3-658-17446-0 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-658-17446-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017938637
Springer VS
© Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 2017
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part
of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations,
recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission
or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or
dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt
from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this
book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained
herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Printed on acid-free paper
This Springer VS imprint is published by Springer Nature
The registered company is Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH
The registered company address is: Abraham-Lincoln-Str. 46, 65189 Wiesbaden, Germany
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Philipp Harfst, Ina Kubbe and Th omas Poguntke
I Parties and Democracy in Comparative Perspective
Kosmopolitismus versus Kommunitarismus:
Ein neuer Konfl ikt in der Demokratie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Wolfgang Merkel
Responsible Responsiveness of Parties in and out of Government . . . . . . . . . . 25
Hans Keman
Ideological Congruence: Choice, Visibility and Clarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Darina Gancheva and Bernhard Weßels
New Parties and the Crisis of Representation:
Between Indicator and Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Kris Deschouwer
Changing or Getting Changed: Th e Example of the German Greens
since 1979 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Th omas Poguntke
Th e ‘Law of Conservation of Disproportionality’ and Electoral
Prospects of Small Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Philipp Harfst
V
VI Table of Contents
New Internal Politics in Western Democracies: The Impact of the
Environmental Movement in Highly Industrialized Democracies ......... 125
Detlef Jahn
II Governments and Democracy in Comparative Perspective
Viewing African Presidencies Concretely and Positively:
Six Case-Studies as Examples ......................................... 153
Jean Blondel
The Party Composition of Government in Western Democracies,
1950–2015 .......................................................... 181
Manfred G. Schmidt
Strong Presidents for Weak States. How Weak State Capacity Fosters
Vertically Concentrated Executives .................................... 205
Jessica Fortin-Rittberger
III Elites and Democracy in Comparative Perspective
Prime Ministerial Tenure in Central and Eastern Europe:
The Role of Party Leadership and Cabinet Experience ................... 229
Florian Grotz and Till Weber
Elites and Corruption in European Democracies ........................ 249
Ina Kubbe
One-Party Dominance and Public Sector Corruption in South Africa:
Consequences for Democracy ........................................ 281
Tom Koelble
IV Looking Onward
Contemporary Problems and Future Perspectives of Empirical Research
on Democracy ...................................................... 303
Dirk Berg-Schlosser
List of Contributors ................................................. 321
Introduction
Philipp Harfst, Ina Kubbe and Th omas Poguntke

Th is book has been written in honour of the 65th birthday of Ferdinand Müller-Rom-
mel. Over the past decades, he has been one of the most well-known and infl uential
political scientists at home and abroad – and, above all, a highly regarded colleague
and a good friend.
Research on parties, governments and elites has shaped his academic career and
he has contributed immensely to the German and international advancement of
these research fi elds. Ferdinand promoted the development of international com-
parative political science like no other, not only through academic contributions
but also as an institution builder. His involvement within ECPR and his service as
a Vice-President for International Aff airs as well as Director of the Centre for the
Study of Democracy at Leuphana University are but the most prominent roles that
deserve mentioning. We know him as a very passionate and profound academic of
the sort you usually only read about. Driven by the desire to shape society, he has
always felt attracted to and fascinated by the academic world. While being open and
curious for new challenges and developments, he never lost sight of his academic
goals. Particularly close to his heart was always the contact with junior colleagues
and he greatly enjoyed helping them with their careers. His leading role in the
ECPR Summer School on Political Parties for over a quarter of a century speaks for
itself, and many of the contributors to this volume have taught at or participated
in summer school sessions organized by Ferdinand. All of us had the enormous
privilege to benefi t from his encouragement, support and inspiration by working
closely with him. His psychological sensitivity, strategic farsightedness and the
ability to bring people from all over the world with diff erent backgrounds together
are only some of his characteristics that make him so special. Th is Festschrift is our
modest way of saying ‘thank you for all this, Ferdinand!’
All contributors of this book had the pleasure of working with Ferdinand during
his impressive career and enjoyed his intellectual spirit and enthusiasm. We are
1
© Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 2017
P. Harfst et al. (Hrsg.), Parties, Governments and Elites,
Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft,DOI 10.1007/978-3-658-17446-0_1
2 Philipp Harfst, Ina Kubbe and Thomas Poguntke
all very grateful to Springer VS-Verlag for supporting this project enthusiastically
from the beginning, and to Jan Treibel who guided us through all stages of the
publishing process. Furthermore, we are deeply grateful to the colleagues of the
Center for the Study of Democracy at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Sabine Busse
and all the other people who supported us to get this book published.
The present book is dedicated to the comparative study of democracy and to
Ferdinand’s work. Parties, governments and elites are at it’s core. The traditional
view, expressed for example in Lijphart’s seminal ‘Patterns of Democracy’, is that
parties as collective actors play a paramount role in the democratic process. Sim-
ilarly, the comparative political science classics like Duverger, Sartori or Schum-
peter concentrate on legislative or executive elections and their effects on parties
and party systems: Parties propose leaders to voters. Voters decide to whom they
confide their representation in parliament or – in the case of direct elections – in
government. These partisan representatives either directly control governmental
action or elect a responsible government that they support in the future. The study
of democracy conceived in this way therefore incorporates the entire chain of
democratic representation and accountability, and it shows the scope of Ferdinand
Müller-Rommel’s academic oeuvre. His research has covered all aspects of this chain,
including additionally also protest movements and the machinery of government.
In recent years, however, this classic perspective has been challenged by political
actors, observers of modern democracy and political scientists alike. Arguably,
there has been a shift of power from parties to leaders in the political process of
modern democracy. In many Central and Eastern European democracies, leaders
have played a dominant role since the democratic transition while in Western
democracies the personalisation of politics has altered traditional modes of rep-
resentation and the functioning of democracy (see, for example, the contributions
by Colomer 2011, Karvonen 2010 and Poguntke and Webb 2005). In spite of this
shift, new collective bodies – be it parties or social movements (see, for example,
Luther and Müller-Rommel 2002 and Müller-Rommel and Poguntke 1995, 2002)
– continue to organize, propose new ways of participation and policy making, and
attract citizens and activists. The contemporary study of democracy is therefore
still very much rooted in the classical focus on parties, leaders and governments.
At the same time it has transcended and supplemented the classical questions of
comparative political science. Modern political parties assume different roles,
contemporary leaders can influence politics more profoundly and governments
face new constraints such as European integration and globalisation. These de-
velopments challenge contemporary comparative research on democracy in that
classical concepts need to be adapted to modern conditions.
Introduction 3
In light of these observations, the comparative study of democracy faces a num-
ber of important and still largely unsolved questions. Are policy outputs nowadays
largely dominated by political leaders, still mainly controlled by traditional parties
or increasingly influenced by new actors like social movements? What characterises
the modern political elite and what is its role in the process of policy formulation
and implementation? What are the consequences of these developments of modern
democracies for their legitimacy, their stability, change and possibly breakdown?
To answer these questions, the following book focuses on the traditional chain
of representation, new participatory challenges, the role of governments and their
leaders as well as political elites in the democratic process. Its aim is twofold: as-
sembling a number of distinguished scholars from the field of democracy research,
it will first provide the reader with an overview on fascinating developments in
the field, identify most recent innovations, and point to future topics; second, it
will exemplify the vibrant state of the discipline through examples from current
cutting edge empirical studies on parties, governments and elites.
The book is organised in four sections that all use a genuinely comparative ap-
proach, combining conceptual and empirical perspectives. This will enable us to
identify patterns of similarity (or difference) as well as stability (or change) over time.
The first section focuses on the changing role of parties in the process of gov-
ernment formation and law-making, developments in party organisation and the
creation of new parties and the demise of established ones as well as the impact of
parties and party systems on the quality of democratic institutions, their outputs
and the citizens’ satisfaction with democracy.
In this section, Wolfgang Merkel highlights recent challenges to the process of
democratic representation that become particularly visible by the rise of new right-
wing populist parties and that is rooted in a new cleavage between cosmopolitans
and communitarians in modern societies. In the following chapter, Hans Keman
is interested in the process of representation at the level of government and devel-
ops the model of responsible responsiveness. He empirically shows that levels of
responsiveness inevitably vary between electoral arenas and policy fields. Using an
original dataset combining survey and manifesto data, Hans-Dieter Klingemann,
Darina Gancheva and Bernhard Weßels further investigate the implications of the
responsible party model and ask whether political demands by voters are matched
by the policies that parties offer. They find both, positive examples of faithful
policy representation as well as office seeking strategies that tend to blur congru-
ence between parties and their supporters. Kris Descouwer also departs from the
concept of political representation. He diagnoses that representation by traditional
parties is in a state of crisis and claims that new parties have done a lot to indicate
the malaise. However, these parties failed when it came to solving the problems of
3