What determines the flow of unsanctioned information in authoritarian regimes? To answer this question, we explore the use and circulation of illicit foreign information among citizens in North... Show moreWhat determines the flow of unsanctioned information in authoritarian regimes? To answer this question, we explore the use and circulation of illicit foreign information among citizens in North Korea. This paper focuses on how the structure of social relations among citizens determines where and with whom people acquire and disseminate politically unsanctioned and potentially illegal content offline. Based on findings from a choice‐based conjoint administered to 313 former residents of North Korea, we show that social capital and trust-related effects associated with the place where information is acquired and the person who provides it determine information flows. Show less
ENG: In 1973 political freedom was suspended in Chile giving way to an authoritarian regime which sought to install a new political and so- cioeconomic order. For this purpose, new legal standards... Show moreENG: In 1973 political freedom was suspended in Chile giving way to an authoritarian regime which sought to install a new political and so- cioeconomic order. For this purpose, new legal standards were established as well as a series of economic reforms carried out by a group of neoliberal technocrats known as Chicago Boys. This paper presents the main characte- ristics of technocratic rationality, as well as its relationship with authoritarianism and neo- liberalism. Specifically, it is justified through primary sources why the Chicago Boys are technocrats, as well as what are the particu- lar properties of neoliberal technocracy. The hypothesis is that the neoliberal and traditio- nal technocracy have different characteristics to each other, especially when it is analyzed the role that the expert has when planning society.SPA: En 1973 la libertad política fue suspendida en Chile abriendo paso a un régimen autoritario que buscó instalar un nuevo orden político y socioeconómico. Para ello, se establecieron nuevas normas jurídicas y una serie de reformas económicas a cargo de un grupo de tecnócratas neoliberales conocidos como Chicago Boys. Este artículo expone las principales características de la racionalidad tecnocrática, así como la relación de ésta con el autoritarismo y el neoliberalismo. En particular, se justifica mediante fuentes primarias porqué los Chicago Boys son tecnócratas, así como cuáles son las propiedades particulares de la tecnocracia neoliberal. La hipótesis es que la tecnocracia neoliberal y tradicional poseen características distintas entre sí, sobre todo cuando es analizado el papel que elexperto desempeña al planificar la sociedad. Show less
The EU's good governance policy considers civil society an actor promoting development as well as political accountability of governments, thus contributing to the democratisation of political... Show moreThe EU's good governance policy considers civil society an actor promoting development as well as political accountability of governments, thus contributing to the democratisation of political systems. This study argues that the EU's policy is based on questionable assumptions with respect to the nature of civil society, as well as the willingness of state and civil society to cooperate. Syria, as an extreme case of authoritarianism, is taken as an example. The connotation attached by the EU to civil society in Syria is normative and overlooks its complexity and the character of its relations with the state. Within the context of intergovernmental and multilateral cooperation, the Syrian regime could select and control activities in the domain of good governance, including possible involvement in its implementation by Syrian civil society organisations, which were not perceived as a threat to the regime's power. In fact, this support may have even contributed to the resilience of this authoritarian regime Show less
This thesis intends to identify the systemic causes of corruption in China’s courts by firstly investigating how corruption is carried out in China’s courts. It employs an analytical framework,... Show moreThis thesis intends to identify the systemic causes of corruption in China’s courts by firstly investigating how corruption is carried out in China’s courts. It employs an analytical framework, which treats corruption as a four-phase contracting process, namely 1) the phase of initiation of the exchange; 2) the phase of negotiation of the exchange; 3) the phase of contractual performance; and 4) the phase of enforcement of the contract in case of non-performance. This framework is employed in an endeavor to analyze the empirical data collected from various sources and to demonstrate in details the features and patterns of corrupt conduct in each of the four phases so as to identify more accurately which factor(s) has(have) facilitated corruption in China’s courts. In doing that, the thesis identifies two phases that are most critical to the completion of corrupt exchange. The first phase is the initiation phase, in which corrupt intent is communicated between potential exchange parties. The second phase is the phase of contractual performance, especially that of the bribed. These two phases are further examined, demonstrating how these two phases are completed by corruption participants in China’s courts and what factors have facilitated the process and contributed to its “success”. Show less
