GOVT S-1113 Meeting 6 Constitutional Engineering and Reform Sequencing

Tensions in Constitutional Arrangements (Larry Diamond, “Three Paradoxes of Democracy,” in Diamond and Plattner (eds.) The Global Resurgence of Democracy [1996]) 1.Conflict versus consensus 2.Representativeness versus governability 3.Consent versus effectiveness

Electoral Systems: Voting Mechanisms Pluralist/Majoritarian (Westminster) – plurality, majority w/second-round runoff, etc. – commonly single-member districts – favors two effective parties (Duverger’s Law) Proportional Representation – threshold common (usually around 5%) – closed or open list – favors multiple parties and coalition-building

Electoral Systems: Representation Presidential – Advantages: Executive directly elected; act decisively and quickly in crises (e.g. executive appoints cabinet); symbolic capital invested in one individual; stability of fixed term in office; separation of powers – Drawbacks: less inclusive (winner-take-all, first-past-the-post); dual-legitimacy with legislature; lame duck effect; tendency toward authoritarianism (?)/misuse of veto/decree powers Parliamentary – Advantages: power-sharing; ability to change government/PM; coalition-building promotes compromise; inclusive of citizens’ views – Drawbacks: slow to act if no majority coalition; PM not directly elected; instability of government; politicians beholden to party, not electorate; reinforces societal divisions; forced coalitions

Nuancing the Above: (Table adapted from Lijphart, “Constitutional Choices for New Democracies”) PresidentialParliamentary Plurality representation United StatesUnited Kingdom Proportional Representation (legislature) ColumbiaDenmark

Common Additional Systems: Westminster parliamentary (e.g., UK) Semi-presidential (extremely varied in terms of the particulars) (e.g., France) Various other “mixed” systems and vote apportionment formulas (too many to list!)

“Sequencing” of Reforms: “Sequencing” vs. “gradualism” in Carothers reading: sequencing: rule of law and effective state need (or ideally should) predate democratization gradualism: rule of law and effective state come (eventually) with democratization BUT: Other scholars use the term sequencing to mean step-wise reforms DURING democratization

Consociationalism in Deeply Divided Societies Basic definition of “consociationalism”: government by a grand coalition mutual veto or “concurrent majority” rule proportionality (in elections, but also civil service, public allocation of funds, etc.) high degree of segmental autonomy

Consociationalism Some Advantages: institutionalizes and regularizes competition as a political process; may be only way of holding together a very diverse state Some Disadvantages: not terribly democratic or liberal (group matters more than individual); elite- centric; may serve to reify socio-economic divisions as political points of contestation going forward

Democratic Divorce in Deeply Divided Societies De jure examples: Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia Sudan De facto examples: Transnistria in Moldova Crimea in Ukraine S. Ossetia/Abkhazia in Georgia