This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical model of the political decision making process. Therein two ideologically different political parties compete for power. Their primary instrument in this competition are programmatic concessions in favor of voters and interest groups. As any...

O'Hara G. (2005) A journey without maps: the regional policies of the 1964-70 British Labour Government, Regional Studies 39 , 1183-1195. This paper examines four influences on British regional policy in the late 1960s: party politics in the context of the economic environment; the structure of...

While people in democracies can vote their government out when they are discontent with its policies, those in dictatorships cannot do so. They can only attempt to expel the dictator via mass protests or revolutions. Based on a general cause-and-effect mechanism, the author analyzes whether such...

The economic crisis triggered in 2007 made many believe that a relatively long period will follow, where the public will favor a greater role for the state. I appreciate that, on the contrary, the public attitude will act in the opposite direction and that, for a long period of time, we will...

The persistent debate on the consolidation versus fragmentation model of government is a result of a dualist conceptualization of governance reform by two competing theories—public choice and traditional reform. Both argue for reform, but their definitions of reform are diametrically opposed...

In this paper, which is concerned with philosophical methodology as it might affect social science and ethics, the endeavor is to explore the depth and implications of Buchanan’s interest in Spinoza. After establishing their connection, the paper explores the parallels between Spinoza’s...