Reform Strategies Matter: Explaining the Perplexing Results of Regional Government Reforms in Norway and Denmark

Reforming the public sector often means imposing immediate costs on well-organised interests in return for longer-term, diffuse benefits to voters and taxpayers. Nonetheless, reforms sometimes are carried through. Investigations of this puzzle have followed two approaches: The first is structural and explains reforms as a consequence of the institutional setting in which policymakers operate. The second focuses on human agency. It investigates how reformers search for ways to overcome structural obstacles. This approach has lived a quiet life in recent decades. In this paper, we investigate recent attempts to reform the regional government level in Norway and Denmark. Despite very similar structural settings and political preferences, the reforms failed in Norway, but were successful in Denmark; failure and success being defined by the two governments' intensions. We argue that the explanation lies in the different reform strategies pursued by the central governments in the two countries.     

Media consumption: Using social attitudes to segment society – a typology of a South African sample

Abstract

In this, the first of a two-article series, an attitudinal typology was developed for use in a subsequent study of media consumption and psychographic variables. The current study used multivariate statistics to identify types of individuals who are similar to one another, across multiple measures of attitudes towards social issues. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of data from 11 533 South Africans, aged 16 years and older, revealed six distinct types based on the component ‘attitudinal variables’. The types were labelled Contemporaries, Conventionals, Unconcerneds, Self-involveds, Old-schoolers and Confidents. Preliminary analysis of available demographic variables revealed significant differences for age, population group, gender, work status, home language, SAARF Lifestages and SAARF Universal Living Standard Measure (SU-LSM®) for the six types. The typology illustrates the possibility of empirical identification of distinct attitudinal types of a South African sample. Methodological limitations and recommendations for further research are discussed.     

The role of leisure activities and social attitudes in the mass media consumption of a sample of South African adults: A psychographic approach

Abstract

This study, the second in a two-article series, explores the interplay between attitudes, behaviour and media consumption in a sample of South African adults. Participants aged 16 years and older were drawn from a subsample of data collected during the 2007A South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) All Media and Products Survey (AMPS®). Utilising statistical comparison of psychographic typologies, this study confirmed the existence of significant, albeit weak, relationships between mass media consumption, social attitudes and leisure interests/activities in this sample. Analyses of demographic variables revealed further significant relationships between mass media consumption and home language, work status, the SAARF Lifestages and the SAARF Universal Living Standards Measure (SU-LSM®). The findings are discussed in relation to available empirical literature and the need for advancement of the media psychology sub-discipline in South Africa.     

An Elemental Definition of Democracy and its Advantages for Comparing Political Regime Types

The way democracy is studied today is confusing due to the many definitions applied. More importantly, it is also flawed in that several cases are excluded as they suffer from the unfortunate circumstances that they have undergone a particular sequence of democratic developments according to a pattern not recognized. This article attempts to spark a debate that will hopefully lead to a new definition of democracy – one that is neutral in its view of the different elements of democracy, can be applied to regimes across the globe, and which also facilitates comparative studies of all kinds. To begin the debate, the article examines previous definitions – and particularly the use of diminished subtypes – before putting forward an alternative: the so-called ‘elemental definition’.     

Polish Police Officers: Personality and Risk Taking

The present study was aimed at identifying the personality factors of Polish Officers preparing for the peace mission in Kosovo using Zuckerman`s Alternative Five Factor Model. The sample consisted of 86 policemen (Mage = 32.9 yr., SD = 4.5) and 58 low risk workers (Mage = 29.4 yr., SD = 5.3). It was found that policemen scored significantly higher on Impulsive Sensation Seeking in comparison to the control group. The policemen scores on other personality traits were more akin to those of the control group.     

The struggle to implement teaching-hospital mergers

Abstract: This paper presents some initial results from a longitudinal study of two major hospital mergers (involving three large institutions each). After examining the context of the two mergers and the cultures that must be integrated, we describe the processes of pre-merger negotiation, leadership development, strategic framing and operationalization. Despite very different processes that seem on the surface smoother in one organization than in the other, both organizations have experienced difficulties in achieving successful operationalization. We conclude that the context of limited resources, diffuse power and divergent cultures are largely responsible for the difficulties experienced. Sommaire: Cet article présente quelques résultats préliminaires tirés d'une étude longitudinale de deux grandes fusions d'hôpitaux (impliquant trois gros établissements chacune). Après avoir examiné le contexte des deux fusions et les cultures à intégrer, nous décrivons les processus de négociation précédant la fusion, de développement du leadership, d'encadrement stratégique et d'opérationnalisation. Malgré des processus trés différents, dont l'un semble à prime abord plus harmonieux que l'autre, les dew organisations ont éprouvé des difficultés à atteindre une opérationnalisation réussie. Now en concluons que le contexte de ressources limitées, de pouvoir diffus et de cultures divergentes est largement à l'origine des difficultés éprouvées.     

The Clash of Historical Analogies and Their Influence on Decision-Making: The Case of Iraqi Reconstruction Under George W. Bush

Contrary to the conventional wisdom in the literature on United States foreign policy, there was no consensus within the George W. Bush Administration on the parallel between the reconstruction of Iraq and that of post-Second World War Germany and Japan. Systematic analysis of available sources shows that the decision-makers drew a large number of different historical analogies—73 in all. This analysis takes a fresh look at the use of analogies regarding Iraqi reconstruction. We divide the period of April 2003 to June 2008 into four phases, in each of which a different analogy predominates—Afghanistan, Germany and Japan, the Cold War, and Vietnam. Analysis of the analogies embraced by five distinct groups within the Administration’s decision-making team—nationalist hawks, neoconservatives, administrators of Iraq, realist internationalists and the president—clarifies the affinities and tensions amongst them.     

Overview of ecofiscal powers for municipalities: Implementation of new measures in Québec

A variety of taxes, charges and user fees deployed by municipalities can mitigate the negative impact of activities and infrastructures on the environment while diversifying revenue sources. Existing studies on ecofiscal instruments in Canadian municipalities, however, have focused primarily on the pricing of water and waste material while neglecting other environmental issues and the potential of taxes and regulatory charges. This article presents a picture of municipal ecotaxation in Québec and includes four new instruments crafted by Québec municipalities.     

Web-Based Accountability in the Nonprofit Sector: A Closer Look at Arts,Culture, and Humanities Organizations

ABSTRACT

Web-based accountability continues to be an important consideration for nonprofit organizations. This research examines the impact of certain variables on web-based accountability in the arts, culture, and humanities sector. A content analysis of eighty nonprofit organizations was performed and multiple statistical analyses were used. Findings indicated that regulatory measures, including the prosecution and a detection index, are the most significant variables for determining web-based accountability for this group of nonprofit organizations.