Comparative Politics

Abstract

In the last two decades, institutional analysis has become the most prominent branch in political science and a fashionable one in economics. This new wave of literature, known as "new institutionalism", although does not constitute a unified body of research and thought, appeared with the aim of overcoming the problems and shortcomings of both "traditional" institutionalism as well as behaviourism, and placed institutions at the core of theory-building. This panel expects to approach the study of institutions in a wholeheartedly comparative and theory-driven way. Specifically, we would like to discuss around particular themes in the politics of representation and accountability, not around particular important countries or cases. Or, in Przeworski´s words, we try to “substitute names by variables”. This group welcomes paper proposals that empirically and comparatively analyze the determinants and consequences of political institutions and regimes. We are particularly interested in research examining how modern theories and empirical studies shed light on topics such as the origin of institutions, and their relation with the alternative forms under which accountability may take place, and their potential policy and economic consequences.

Title	Details
Who wins and who loses after a coalition government?	View Paper Details
Democratic Quality in Latin-American Political Systems. Some Hypotheses About the Role of the Rule of Law	View Paper Details
Electoral Accountability in Post-Communist Europe: A Study of Economic Voting	View Paper Details
The judicial accountability of outgoing dictators	View Paper Details