Verified Document

Dealt With The Same Topic Essay

Therefore this makes sense that certain conditions need to effectuate change, and as Gunther (2003) shows, it seems to be the elite. Taking the case of party elite behavior in Spain in the early 1980s, Gunther (2003) showed how some key party members were inaccurately informed regarding certain decisions producing outcomes that were irrational. Other key members also sought fulfillment of personal objectives. The result was engagement of elites in irrational behavior and behavior that contradicted the norm -- or the expectation -- of the political system.

On the other hand, Gunther's study did not involve firsthand observations, surveys and research but rather revolved around simulation and explorations of elite-level coalition-building strategies, a far less reliable technique. Whilst their reasoning sounds plausible and highly contrasted, there are still room for gaps particularly since their reconstruction is a removed and subjective evaluation of possible reasons behind eventual structure of laws and consequent formation of political system. Other weaknesses consist in alternate variables resulting in consequent law / direction of party. As Gunther shows, uncertainty too played a part. It would be difficult, therefore, to determine which of the two was the greater determiner: elitist behavior or uncertainty -- or something else totally different.

Benoit and Hayden (2004) studied institutional change and persistence in the evolution of Poland's electoral system (1989-2001). The hypothesis was that party support for particular system was linked to perceived system's effect on the party seat. The researchers modeled electoral system change and operationalized 'system change' as that driven by partisans self-interest in maximizing their number of seats and tested this model in five different sagas of electoral system change in Poland from 1989 to 2001, comparing the parties' support for alternatives of electoral law to their expectations of the amount of seats gained as a result of these alternatives. The IV was expectation of seats, the DV was selection of political system and consequent development.

The...

Their conclusion and findings were that the office-seeking model (that described possessiveness of seats as driver to electoral selection) best described evolution and development of political system rather than other models such as the transitional fittings explanation.
The researchers chose the policy-seeking and office-seeking instruments as means to conceptualize, operationalize, and explore their subject. As stated their employed office-seeking model, does not tightly conform to the selected case study, rather serves as heuristic. Nonetheless, it seemed to adequately explain the process of change and institutionalization. This was particularly so as it traced the development of the electoral system.

The strengths of their argument consist in their close reasoning, caution taken with their study, clear graphs and layout, as well as thorough contrast with pertinent political parties. Their observation is acute, and the research longitudinal.

Weaknesses consists in the general weakness that pertain with opinion polls - merely that they are often misbalanced not equally representing all samples of the population aside from which they share shortfalls generic to all surveys in that they are subjective, relying on mood, context, and other aspects such as participant's understanding of interviewer and the reverse. Furthermore, elements that may influence party's choice in Poland may, for instance, not be existent in another country where different variables may prove deterministic in impelling agents to act.

References

Bawn, K. The logic of institutional preferences. American Journal of Political Science, 37, (Nov. 1993), 965-989

Bergman, P. Sociology of Knowledge,

Benoit, K. & Hayden, J. Institutional change and persistence, The Journal of Politics, 66, May 2004.

Gunther, R. Electoral laws, party systems, and elites, American Political Science Review, 83,…

Sources used in this document:
references. American Journal of Political Science, 37, (Nov. 1993), 965-989

Bergman, P. Sociology of Knowledge,

Benoit, K. & Hayden, J. Institutional change and persistence, The Journal of Politics, 66, May 2004.

Gunther, R. Electoral laws, party systems, and elites, American Political Science Review, 83, Sep. 1989
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Expression of Interest. A Topic or Subject
Words: 3559 Length: 12 Document Type: Essay

expression of interest. A topic or subject that, one finds worthy enough of contributing to and that one can contribute to, through academic rigor is forms the body of a research. The work produced thus requires academic training and skills and the outcome is a 'work of scholarship'. The skills that are needed for research are: ability to clearly define a research subject/topic; identify a research query that will

Euthanasia Debate the Topic of
Words: 1713 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Taking one's life as a result of the fact that the respective person is expected to suffer inhumane pain for several years until his or her death cannot possibly be compared with murder or suicide. Morality should actually be combined with logics in understanding euthanasia and people need to be more sympathetic and less egocentric regarding individuals who prefer euthanasia as the "safe way out." Bibliography: Allen, Jen & Chavez, Sonia

Systematic Literature Review Addresses the Topic of
Words: 2159 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

systematic literature review addresses the topic of what parents need to know and can do to enhance the developmental outcomes of their very low birth weight babies, following discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. This topic is significant as very low birth weight babies, as a group, have special needs. And, by addressing these items, parents can enhance their child's development. Systematic Literature Review: What Parents Need to Know

Internet Security Has Become a Big Topic
Words: 773 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Internet security has become a big topic in the last few years because every business and every person has, to some extent, allowed their information to be captured by the web. With businesses, it is necessary to keep certain records on the computer because it makes processing payroll and other critical issues much easier and more secure. Though it is true that computers can be kept much more secure than

Woman Entered the National Institutes of Health
Words: 955 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

woman entered the National Institutes of Health Research Hospital in Bethesda Maryland with a serious, but fairly routine infection; however the subsequent events were to prove anything but routine. The article titled "Tracking a Hospital Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with Whole-Genome Sequencing," traced the effort to discover the cause of the woman's illness, as well how the staff at one of America's most advanced hospitals dealt with the

Substance Abuse in Adolescents: Examining
Words: 961 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly. Proposed Solutions The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now