Controlling Governments: Voters, Institutions, and Accountability

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511611414

How much influence do citizens have to control the government? What guides voters at election time? Why do governments survive? How do institutions modify the power of the people over politicians? The book combines academic analytical rigor with comparative analysis to identify how much information voters must have to select a politician for office, or for holding a government accountable; whether parties in power can help voters to control their governments; how different institutional arrangements influence voters' control; why politicians choose particular electoral systems; and what economic and social conditions may undermine not only governments, but democracy. Arguments are backed by vast macro and micro empirical evidence. There are cross-country comparisons and survey analyses of many countries. In every case there has been an attempt to integrate analytical arguments and empirical research. The goal is to shed new light on perplexing questions of positive democratic theory.

'The chapters in Controlling Governments are coherent and well argued, and the arguments are well defended. In fact, it reads like a special issue of a journal …'

Source: Political Studies Review

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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Acknowledgments
pp ix-x
- By José María Maravall, Director of the Center for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Juan March Institute (Madrid), Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca, Professor of Political Science, Center for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Juan March Institute (Madrid)
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Contributors
pp xi-xii
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Controlling Governments
pp xiii-xiv
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Introduction
pp 1-16
- By José María Maravall, Professor of Sociology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Director, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias Sociales (Instituto Juan March), Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca, Doctor Miembro, Instituto Juan March; Associate Professor of Sociology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Professor of Political Science, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias Sociales (Instituto Juan March)
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1 - Explaining the Electoral Performance of Incumbents in Democracies
pp 17-44
- By Belén Barreiro, Doctora Miembro of the Instituto Juan March and Advisor, Cabinet of the Spanish Prime Minister
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2 - How Can Governments Be Accountable If Voters Vote Ideologically?
pp 45-81
- By Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca, Doctor Miembro, Instituto Juan March; Associate Professor of Sociology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Professor of Political Science, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias Sociales (Instituto Juan March)
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3 - Enduring Ethnicity: The Political Survival of Incumbent Ethnic Parties in Western Democracies
pp 82-104
- By Sonia Alonso, Doctora Miembro of the Instituto Juan March and Research Fellow, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung
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4 - Performance or Representation? The Determinants of Voting in Complex Political Contexts
pp 105-130
- By Paloma Aguilar, Doctora Miembro of the Instituto Juan March and Associate Professor of Sociology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca, Doctor Miembro of the Instituto Juan March; Associate Professor of Sociology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Professor of Political Science, Center for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Juan March Institute (Madrid)
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5 - Political Knowledge and the Logic of Voting: A Comparative Study
pp 131-156
- By Marta Fraile, Doctora Miembro of the Instituto Juan March and Research Fellow, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
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6 - The Political Consequences of Internal Party Democracy
pp 157-201
- By José María Maravall, Professor of Sociology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Director, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias Sociales (Instituto Juan March)
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7 - Choosing Rules for Government: The Institutional Preferences of Early Socialist Parties
pp 202-246
- By Alberto Penadés, Doctor Miembro of the Instituto Juan March and Associate Professor of Political Science, Universidad de Salamanca
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8 - Constitutions and Democratic Breakdowns
pp 247-302
- By Alicia Adserà, Visiting Associate Professor, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (Princeton University), Carles Boix, Professor of Political Science, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (Princeton University)
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Author Index
pp 303-308
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Subject Index
pp 309-311
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Controlling Governments

Voters, Institutions, and Accountability

Book description

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

Acknowledgments
pp ix-x

Contributors
pp xi-xii

Controlling Governments
pp xiii-xiv

Introduction
pp 1-16

1 - Explaining the Electoral Performance of Incumbents in Democracies
pp 17-44

2 - How Can Governments Be Accountable If Voters Vote Ideologically?
pp 45-81

3 - Enduring Ethnicity: The Political Survival of Incumbent Ethnic Parties in Western Democracies
pp 82-104

4 - Performance or Representation? The Determinants of Voting in Complex Political Contexts
pp 105-130

5 - Political Knowledge and the Logic of Voting: A Comparative Study
pp 131-156

6 - The Political Consequences of Internal Party Democracy
pp 157-201

7 - Choosing Rules for Government: The Institutional Preferences of Early Socialist Parties
pp 202-246

8 - Constitutions and Democratic Breakdowns
pp 247-302

Author Index
pp 303-308

Subject Index
pp 309-311

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Controlling Governments

Voters, Institutions, and Accountability

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