Decentralization in Cambodia: New Wine in Old Bottles

The usual arguments for decentralization by its advocates are that it can achieve accountability, transparency, participation and democracy. In reaching these goals, however, proponents of decentralization reform have articulated concerns about whether government officials have sufficient capacity to implement decentralization policies, particularly at local level. This article asserts that in Cambodia, where decentralization has unfolded gradually since its adoption some 15 years ago, lack of capacity is not the main problem. Decentralization is designed and implemented as part of the ruling political party's strategy to strengthen its grip at the sub‐national level rather than as an exercise for improving accountability and democracy. Although decentralization is unlikely to lead to democratic gains, it does provide an opportunity for the rejuvenation of a patronage‐based party in ways that could increase state capacity and improve development outcomes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism: Old Wine in New Bottlenecks

This article examines the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) – the main institutional mechanism regulating the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip since the 2014 war. Proponents of the GRM hold that it is a crucial lifeline enabling the entry of humanitarian and reconstruction goods into Gaza while assuaging Israel’s security concerns. In contrast, this article argues that the GRM has introduced a bureaucratic and cumbersome mechanism that has created new bottlenecks that are impeding effective reconstruction and have institutionalized and depoliticized the siege of the Gaza Strip by passing the responsibility for its maintenance on to the international community.     

Etzioni's Communitarianism: Old (Communion) Wine in New Bottles

The renewed interest in civic duty, morals, and family values in British politics owes much to the publicity accorded to Etzioni's communitarian ideas. His political philosophy has not however received much critical scrutiny outside the media and there is little consensus on where to locate his ideas in relation to other traditions of political thought. This paper suggests that Etzioni's particular variant of communitarianism exhibits striking parallels with Catholic social teaching and corresponds to the moral and ideological principles that underpin Christian Democracy. Consequently, some of the short-comings of Catholic social teaching are replicated by Etzioni.     

Old Wine in New Bottles? An Analysis and Preliminary Appraisal of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982

Highway programs were included in the Reagan administration'sNew Federalism proposals which were designed to return manyfederally supported projects to state and local governments.Shortly after those proposals were presented, Congress enactedthe Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. The act increasedthe federal highway fuel tax by five cents to nine cents pergallon (of which states receive four of those five cents forhighway purposes). Although devolution of responsibility toaddress state and local needs was a key feature of the New Federalism,an analysis of the effects of the act on Ohio suggests thatthe increase in highway revenues may have skewed states' prioritiesin both their maintenance outlays and capital project selectionprocess.     

Islam and Plurality,Old and New

All of the historical religions emerged in a context of religious plurality and, at times, bitter inter-religious rivalry. In our late modern age, the challenge of plurality has become all the more pervasive. This paper examines the varied traditions of knowledge and practice developed by Muslim jurists, political leaders, and religious thinkers to engage people of non-Muslim faith, from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to today. It highlights three themes. First, there was never any single message with regard to how the Muslim community should engage plurality. Second, the historical practice of Muslim rulers has often shown greater variation (and occasional "liberality") with regard to questions of plurality than has jurisprudence. Third, and last, however, as with the practitioners of other faiths, Muslims in modern times have had to revisit and rethink their traditions with regards to plurality, and both inclusive and exclusive currents have emerged. The challenge of plurality is likely to remain a core issue in Muslim politics and public ethics for some years to come.     

Old and New Politics in Denmark

A New Politics dimension of non-economic issue preferences emerged in Denmark during the 1980s. The new dimension is clearly separated from the traditional economic Old Politics dimension, though the two are correlated. The New Politics dimension has not given rise to viable new parties but is represented by three medium-sized parties: the Sodalist People's and Radical Liberal parties constitute the New Left, and the Progressive Party constitutes the New Right. The three old class parties contribute little towards explaining the individual variance in the position of New Politics; as always, the Social Democratic Party represents the Old Left while the Liberal and Conservative parties represent the Old Right. In terms of social positions, New Left attitudes are correlated especially with level of school education and with employment in the reproductive sectors.     

New Citizens and Old Politics in Peru

The article presents an analysis of the disjunction between civil and political society in Perú and its consequences in the collapse of the political parties and the rise of an authoritarian regime. It explains how citizenship developed as social rights in the realm of Peruvian civil society before the population gained access to full civil and political rights. This situation diminished the capacity of Peruvian citizens to have their own political representation and created a distance between Peru's civil and political societies, making it difficult for the population to hold politicians accountable for their actions in government and the opposition. This situation proved particularly serious when the country went through a period of deep economic crisis and extended political violence during the 1980s. The breach between civil and political society destroyed the prestige of politicians and democracy, paving the way for an authoritarian cuadillo who dismissed representation with promises of "direct communication with the people" and harsh solutions to the problems of economic crisis and political violence.     

Old Pursuit,New Methods: Promising Benefits amid Familiar Challenges

Results First is a practice that uses new methods to pursue an old objective: to fill the gap between policy making and knowledge. With innovative evidence aggregation tools and implementation instruments, it has many potential benefits for decision makers. In the meantime, it also faces familiar challenges discussed in the literature.     

Measurement and Public Service Motivation: New Insights,Old Questions

ABSTRACT

This article reviews some recent research from political science that speaks to the public service motivation (PSM) literature. Specifically, it discusses research that describes new measures of bureaucratic ideology and agency performance. These new measures might usefully be employed in the PSM literature and a discussion of them highlights some potential pitfalls in PSM research more generally.     

Accounting for the Business of Government—New Goals, Old Myths

This article includes the remarks made by David Mosso, Chairman of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, at the 1998 AICPA National Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update meeting. The article dispels notions of management by slogan and old myths about both government and business accounting regarding their stereotypical performance measurement techniques (ie., profit driven versus politically and socially driven performance measures) Four elements of effective performance measurement are outlined and include a comprehensive measurement system, management process, incentive structure, and an independent audit facility. The article cites various observations pertaining to each of the elements outlined. The major hurdles of successful performance measurement ultimately require hard work and inspired leadership to be overcome.     

Beyond the Message in a Bottle: The Other Critical Theory

Book reviewed in this article:
Alex Demirović, Der nonkonformistische Intellektuelle. Die Entwicklung der Kritischen Theorie zur Frankfurter Schule     

Something Old, Something New: A Historical Perspective on the Butler Review

Simon Case and Catherine Haddon demonstrate the value of contemporary history by looking at the recent Butler Report into intelligence on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in its historical context. Intelligence failures form the most visible activity of the intelligence services, yet from the policy-maker's perspective it is important that the intelligence process remains undisturbed so that the intelligence product remains useful. The intelligence effort on Iraqi WMD, as with previous changes in intelligence targets, shows the difficulties in establishing good intelligence on a new threat. Increases in demand and the centrality of intelligence put more pressure on the intelligence services. Butler has set a precedent for public awareness and therefore a desire for accountability that must be internalised by government and the intelligence services. The problems experienced over Iraq show the need for continual reappraisal by both producers and users of intelligence products, particularly in light of defence policy changes and the wider machinery of government.