Powersharing: New Challenges for Divided Societies

A kötet rövid angol ismertetõje és tartalomjegyzéke

Powersharing: New Challenges for Divided Societies
Edited by Ian O’Flynn and David Russell

It is widely assumed that internal power-sharing is a viable democratic means of managing inter-communal conflict in divided societies. In principle, this form of government enables communities that have conflicting identities to remedy longstanding patterns of discrimination and to co-exist peacefully. Key arguments in support of this view can be found in the highly influential works of Arend Lijphart and Donald Horowitz.

New Challenges for Power-Sharing seeks to explore the unintended consequences of power-sharing for the communities themselves, their individual members, and for others in society. More specifically, it is distinctive in questioning explicitly whether power sharing: -perpetuates inter-communal conflict by institutionalising difference at the political level; -inhibits conflict resolution by encouraging extremism; -stifles internal diversity; -and fails to leave sufficient space for individual autonomy.

This book not only provides a theoretical exploration and critique of these questions, but comprehensively examines specific test cases where power-sharing institutions have been established, including in Northern Ireland, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Lebanon. It also explores such issues as the role of political leaders, human rights instruments, the position of women, and the prospects for reconciliation within such societies. Furthermore it provides a detailed set of policy recommendations to meet the challenges of transition in deeply-divided societies.

 

Table of contents

Introduction: New Challenges for Power Sharing
Ian O’Flynn and David Russell

Part 1. Conceptual Issues

1. Democratic Values and Power Sharing
Ian O’Flynn

2. Integration and Autonomy: Minority rights and Political Accommodation
Tom Hadden

3. Breaking Antagonism? Political Leadership in Divided Societies
Duncan Morrow

4. Electoral Systems Design and Power-Sharing Regimes
Stefan Wolff

Part 2. Case Studies

5. The Failure of Moderate Politics: The Case of Northern Ireland
Anthony Oberschall

6. The Unintended Consequences of Consociational Federalism: The Case of Belgium
Kris Deschouwer

7. Partial Implementation,Partial Success: The Case of Macedonia
Florian Bieber

8. The Dichotomy of International Mediation and Leader Intransigence: The Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Marie-Joëlle Zahar

9. Power Sharing and National Reconciliation: The Case of Lebanon
David Russell and Nadim Shehadi

Part 3. Deepening Democracy

10. Overlapping Identities: Power Sharing and Women’s Rights
Rachel Rebouché

11. Below and Beyond Power Sharing: Relational Structures across Institutions and Civil Society
Manlio Cinalli

12. The Challenge of Reconciliation in Post-conflict Societies: Definitions,Problems and Proposals
Brandon Hamber

13. Towards a Civic Culture: Implications for Power Sharing Policy Makers
Robin Wilson