WHAT SHAPES CITIZENS' EVALUATIONS OF THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS' ACCOUNTABILITY? EVIDENCE FROM LOCAL ETHIOPIA

In this article, we study which institutional factors shape citizens' views of the local accountability of their public officials. Our departing assumption is that evaluations of local accountability reflect not only citizens' poltical attitudes and beliefs but also whether local institutions contribute to an environment of mutual trust, accountability and ultimately democratic legitimacy. Combining public opinion data from a large‐N citizen survey (N = 10 651) with contextual information for 63 local governments in Ethiopia, we look at access to information, participatory planning and the publicness of basic services as potential predictors of citizens' evaluations of local public officials. Our findings suggest that local context matters. Jurisdictions that provide access to information on political decision making are perceived to have more accountable officials. Moreover, when local governments provide public fora that facilitate citizens' stakes in local planning processes, it positively affects citizens' evaluations of the accountability of their officials. Our study adds to the empirical literatrure by showing that establishing local institutions that can foster citizen–government relations at the local level through inclusive processes is crucial for improving public perceptions of accountability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Political Advertising in Greek Municipal and Prefecture Elections of 2002

Abstract

Since the restoration of democracy in 1974, Greek politics have undergone a serious transformation, exemplified by the increase in political participation that strongly affected political advertising at the national and local level. The major claim of the paper is that political campaigns in major cities in Greece are “modern” while in the periphery of the country political campaigning is based more upon direct forms of interpersonal relations. Our claim is based upon an examination of the role of political advertising in the major metropolitan city of Thessaloniki (around 1.000.000 inhabitants), and the semi-peripheral city of Kastoria (around 17.000 inhabitants), both situated in Northern Greece. The primary objective of this study is to establish a strong factual foundation that can be used by policy makers, opinion leaders, and citizens in order to understand the role of political advertising in national and municipal elections in Greece.     

Independent Candidacies in Greece

Abstract

This article has as its main purpose to demonstrate that three main factors considered as keys to a successful political campaign remain the same around the globe. These basic factors are: (a) that campaign methods drawn from and designed in the USA can be adapted to needs of campaigns implemented in foreign countries; (b) the importance of polling; and, (c) that successful strategy planning and implementation depends on the candidate's attitude and cooperative spirit. The relevance of these factors is exhibited through a case study, the successful campaign strategy of an independent candidate for the post of the mayor in the city of Serres in Northern Greece during the 2002 Greek municipal elections.     

中国集体合同制度法律建设的思考——从地方立法看发展走向

市场化以来,中国的集体合同制度发展迅速,但法律制度上的缺陷与不足制约着集体合同制度的有效运作与实际作用的发挥.近年来,各省市制定了一批集体合同制度的地方立法,其中不乏创新之举.分析评述各地方立法的新意与特点,可以从中看出集体合同制度法律建设的趋势与走向.     

强县扩权背景下我国基层政府公共服务供给能力研究

近年来,试点实行强县扩权的地方政府在义务教育、医疗卫生、社会保障和公共就业服务等基本公共服务供给方面进行了有益的实践,取得了一定的成效,但在权力扩张的同时,地方政府的治理思路和理论也出现了一些困惑。本文对这些新的情况和问题进行分析,并提出一些解决措施,希望会对进一步提高基层政府的公共服务供给能力有所帮助。     

经济转型背景下地方政府行政逻辑的自主性辨析

加快经济发展方式转变以实现经济转型,是"十二五"规划目标的基本前提和要义之一,也已成为当下我国继续推进现代化进程的一个新的重要议题。本文认为,在此过程中,压力型体制下形成的我国地方政府行政逻辑中的自主性仍有其发挥作用的空间,但显然需予以再定位。那么,地方政府的这种自主性何以可能?有哪些主要变量因素?其行政逻辑转型的目标模式又应是什么?本文对这些问题进行了相应的讨论。     

中央与地方政府间关系的司法调节

中央和地方政府间结构关系主要有两种模式 :相互控制和重叠统治。相互控制模式的设计使得各级政府在组成、立法和执行上相互依赖 ,通过立法、行政过程中的体制保障机制来协调政府间的关系。这种方式有诸多弊端。用司法方式调节中央和地方政府关系 ,通过裁决个别纠纷 ,可以间接协调政府间关系 ,其方式有不为人注意的重大好处。中央与地方关系难题的治本之策是吸收重叠统治模式的优点并建立真正意义上的司法权。     

全球化视角下农村与城市发展关系的新模式

全球化本身并不会导致或防止人口和生产向城市集中。目前发展中国家存在的过度城市化问题多源于其特定的经济发展战略。在自由开放的国际、国内贸易条件下 ,如果政府能够对小型的农户、制造商和贸易商基于农村的生产经营活动给以充分的支持 ,扭转农村和城市之间正在扩大的差距是可能的     

关于地方高校社会工作专业课程设计本地化的若干思考

论述课程设计本土化对实现社会工作专业人才培养目标具有重要的意义,分析现阶段地方高校开展社会工作专业教育面临的机遇与挑战,探究社会工作专业课程设计本土化中应注重的原则。     

中国地方政府公共服务合同外包的发展现状——基于二手数据的分析

近年来,合同外包日益成为地方政府提供公共服务的重要机制。本文基于二手数据,在对地方政府公共服务合同外包发展状况(2000~2009)的概括性分析中发现,2000年以来,地方政府公共服务合同外包发展迅猛,其应用的广泛性和深入性均前所未有,并且逐步迈入法制化轨道。由于影响合同外包成效的因素相当复杂,政府显然缺乏相关操作经验,无论是在合同外包的决策当中还是在实施当中,"审慎"是最明智的策略。