Pre-electoral coalitions in comparative perspective: A test of existing hypotheses

Despite the vast coalition literature, pre-electoral coalitions have never been at the center of any systematic, cross-national research. Given their prevalence and potential impact on government composition and policies, this represents a serious omission in our knowledge of coalitions. I begin to remedy this situation by testing two hypotheses found in the literature on party coalitions. The first is that pre-electoral coalitions are more likely to form in disproportional systems if there are a sufficiently large number of parties. The second is that pre-electoral coalitions are more likely to form if voters face high uncertainty about the identity of future governments. These hypotheses are tested using a new dataset comprising legislative elections in 22 advanced industrialized countries between 1946 and 1998. The results of the statistical analysis support the first hypothesis, but not the second.     

Livelihood strategies and performance of Ghana's health and education sectors: exploring the connections

The public sector in Africa is riddled with widespread ineffectiveness. Although some countries have implemented various reform programmes with the support of international development agencies, the results so far have been disappointing. One reason for the failure is that the policies have focussed more on achieving macroeconomic stability than making the organisations effective. This article explores a fundamental problem of the policies—the need to focus on the human component of organisational performance. Using education and health organisations in Ghana as examples, the article advances a hypothesis that the livelihood strategies of public sector employees and the performance of their organisations are interconnected. Specifically, it is argued that as public sector employees have become more dependent on multiple sources of income, they have developed multiple social identities, which influence the culture of their organisations. The organisational culture may have encouraged employee effectiveness in some cases, but for most organisations, it has resulted in practices that perpetuate inefficiency and poor performance. To be successful, public sector reform policies must therefore involve deliberate efforts to change organisational cultures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

关于线路治安工作长远建设的思考

铁路调图提速后线路治安出现许多新情况、新问题,对线路治安工作提出了更高的要求。本文在分析线路治安工作特点的基础上,对线路治安工作长远建设提出5点建议:一是建立健全一套行之有效的长效管理机制;二是制定和完善一套整治线路治安工作的规范;三是以全面推进预防联控工程建设为抓手,构建线路治安主体防控网络;四是与时俱进,创新线路治安的工作方式和方法;五是坚持从优待警,激发线路民警的工作积极性。     

运输毒品罪主观要件研究

当前,关于运输毒品罪的认定,有许多问题存在争议,特别是主观要件方面,如关于明知的认定,是否包括间接故意,主观动机和目的是不是必备要件,共同犯罪故意的认定,对象认识错误的认定和处罚等。因而有必要对其进行分析研究,以期对铁路公安部门打击运输毒品犯罪有点滴之借鉴。     

浅议政府在建立节约型社会中的作用

“建设节约型社会”已经成为全社会关注的重要问题。我国政府浪费资源十分严重,建立节约型社会,首先应从政府做起。政府应以身作则,节约能耗,同时完善我国的节约政策和构建节约型社会的制度,以此促进我国节约型社会的建立。     

新时期企业思想政治工作刍论——以城市商业银行为例

城市商业银行加强和优化党的思想政治工作,充分发挥党的思想政治工作的优势,服务于企业,服务 于群众,对打造一支高素质的职工队伍和能够适应市场经济发展的高效企业,具有重要的现实意义.     

党务公开：发展党内民主的理论和制度创新

党的十六届四中全会《决定》首次明确提出逐步推进党务公开,这是党的执政理念的新突破和提高党的执政能力的新举措。党务公开是发展党内民主的内在要求,贯穿于党内民主建设的各个方面和环节。推进党务公开,进一步扩大了党员和群众对党内事务的知情权、参与权、选择权和监督权,成为新时期发展党内民主的理论和制度创新。     

中共八大对社会主义体制改革的探索

中共八大从政治体制和经济体制两方面对我国社会主义体制改革进行了探索,文章认为这些有益的探索初步指明了社会主义体制改革的方向,是中国共产党探索中国特色社会主义建设道路的伟大起点。     

山西劳动力资源、就业与失业人口现状及发展预测

劳动力资源是社会再生产的必要条件,其变化特点和被利用状况对经济社会发展产生着直接影响。20世纪80年代以来,山西劳动力资源比重持续增长,就业增长率显著下降,失业率明显上升。预计2000年~2010年,劳动力供给和就业还将面临就业容量有限、经济结构不合理、就业渠道狭窄、城镇化建设滞后等严峻挑战。2020年后,全省劳动力供需矛盾将有所缓解。     

新加坡人民行动党执政模式分析

新加坡政党政治最为显著的特征是人民行动党一党长期执政.新加坡政党政治的特征和政治文明的成就,使得新加坡人民行动党成为便于借鉴和值得借鉴的执政模式.新加坡人民行动党的执政模式主要表现为:(1)一党独大、多党竞争的政党关系模式;(2)代表全国利益、反映各方意见的政党立场模式;(3)以权制权、以法治权的权力制衡模式;(4)主动"猎人"、科学选人的人才选用模式;(5)老一代主动退位让贤、新一代"自行决定"领袖的权力交接模式.