Coalitional Presidentialism in Comparative Perspective: Minority Presidents in Multiparty Systems (Oxford Studies in Democratization)

This book provides the first cross-regional study of an increasingly important form of politics: coalitional presidentialism. Drawing on original research of minority presidents in the democratising and hybrid regimes of Armenia, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, and Ukraine, it seeks to understand how presidents who lack single party legislative majorities build and manage cross-party support in legislative assemblies. It develops a framework for analysing this phenomenon, and blends data from MP surveys, detailed case studies, and wider legislative and political contexts, to analyse systematically the tools that presidents deploy to manage their coalitions. The authors focus on five key legislative, cabinet, partisan, budget, and informal (exchange of favours) tools that are utilised by minority presidents. They contend that these constitute the 'toolbox' for coalition management, and argue that minority presidents will act with imperfect or incomplete information to deploy tools that provide the highest return of political support with the lowest expenditure of political capital. In developing this analysis, the book assembles a set of concepts, definitions, indicators, analytical frameworks, and propositions that establish the main parameters of coalitional presidentialism. In this way, Coalitional Presidentialism in Comparative Perspective provides crucial insights into this mode of governance. Oxford Studies in Democratization is a series for scholars and students of comparative politics and related disciplines. Volumes concentrate on the comparative study of the democratization process that accompanied the decline and termination of the cold war. The geographical focus of the series is primarily Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and relevant experiences in Africa and Asia. The series editor is Laurence Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford. Cover Coalitional Presidentialism in Comparative Perspective: Minority Presidents in Multiparty Systems Copyright Acknowledgements Contents List of Figures List of Tables 1: The Rise of Minority Presidentialism: Why Coalitional Politics Matters COALITIONAL GOVERNANCE IN THE ‘THIRD WAVE’ AND BEYOND DEFINING COALITIONS IN COMPARATIVE RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ON PRESIDENTIALISM: FROM CONFRONTATION TO COALITIONS WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT COALITIONAL PRESIDENTIALISM ALREADY? INSTRUMENTS OF COALITION MANAGEMENT: THE PRESIDENTIAL TOOLBOX OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK AHEAD 2: Coalitional Presidentialism in Cross-Regional Perspective CASE SELECTION SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: BENIN, KENYA, AND MALAWI THE FORMER SOVIET UNION: ARMENIA,RUSSIA, AND UKRAINE LATIN AMERICA: ECUADOR, BRAZIL, AND CHILE THE STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF CROSS-REGIONAL ANALYSIS APPENDIX: DATA USED IN THIS STUDY 3: The Embedded Costs of Power Sharing: Coalition Formation in Multiparty Presidentialism INTRODUCTION THEORIES OF COALITION FORMATION DETERMINANTS OF COALITION FORMATION: DISTAL AND PROXIMAL FACTORS COALITION FORMATION OBSERVED: DAY ONE COALITIONS IN PRACTICE 4: Towards a Framework for Analysis: The Presidential Toolbox LIMITS TO THEORY BUILDING: CONTINGENCY AND UNIPERSONAL AUTHORITY CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS MOTIVATIONS OF ACTORS: PRESIDENTIAL GOALS TEMPORAL ORDERING AND CAUSAL PROCESSES FIVE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO PRESIDENTS CHOOSING THE TOOLS: EMBEDDED COSTS AND EXOGENOUS FACTORS 5: Legislative Powers and Coalition Management FACTORS AFFECTING THE COSTS OF USING LEGISLATIVE POWERS LEGISLATIVE TOOLS AT WORK HOW MPs PERCEIVE THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS OF PRESIDENTS CONCLUSION 6: Cabinet Authority and Coalition Management INTRODUCTION FACTORS SHAPING THE COST OF PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION CABINET TOOLS AT WORK CABINET POWERS: THE PERCEPTIONS OF LEGISLATORS CONCLUSION 7: Partisan Powers and Coalition Management FACTORS SHAPING THE COST OF PARTISAN POWERS PARTISAN POWERS AT WORK PARTISAN POWERS: THE PERCEPTIONS OF LEGISLATORS CONCLUSION 8: Budgetary Authority and Coalition Management FACTORS SHAPING THE COST OF DEPLOYING BUDGET TOOLS BUDGET POWERS AT WORK BUDGET POWERS: THE PERCEPTIONS OF LEGISLATORS CONCLUSION 9: The Exchange of Favours and Coalition Management FACTORS SHAPING THE COST OF THE EXCHANGE OF FAVOURS THE EXCHANGE OF FAVOURS AT WORK THE EXCHANGE OF FAVOURS: PERCEPTIONS OF LEGISLATORS CONCLUSION 10: Minority Presidents in a Coalitional World: Comparative Perspectives on the Tools of Governance THE PARAMETERS OF COALITIONAL PRESIDENTIALISM: A FRAMEWORK FINDINGS ON COALITIONAL PRESIDENTIALISM: WHAT WE HAVE SEEN MINORITY PRESIDENTS IN MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS: CONFLICT, COORDINATION, OR PERSEVERANCE? Appendix: CPP Survey Questionnaire (Members of Parliament) A. PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW: MEMBER’S BACKGROUND B. STRUCTURED QUESTIONS C. SEMI-STRUCTURED QUESTIONS D. AFTER THE INTERVIEW Works Cited Index This Book Provides The First Cross-regional Study Of An Increasingly Important Form Of Politics: Coalitional Presidentialism. Drawing On Original Research Of Minority Presidents In The Democratising And Hybrid Regimes Of Armenia, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, And Ukraine, It Seeks To Understand How Presidents Who Lack Single Party Legislative Majorities Build And Manage Cross-party Support In Legislative Assemblies. It Develops A Framework For Analysing This Phenomenon, And Blends Data From Mp Surveys, Detailed Case Studies, And Wider Legislative And Political Contexts, To Analyse Systematically The Tools That Presidents Deploy To Manage Their Coalitions. The Authors Focus On Five Key Legislative, Cabinet, Partisan, Budget, And Informal (exchange Of Favours) Tools That Are Utilised By Minority Presidents. They Contend That These Constitute The 'toolbox' For Coalition Management, And Argue That Minority Presidents Will Act With Imperfect Or Incomplete Information To Deploy Tools That Provide The Highest Return Of Political Support With The Lowest Expenditure Of Political Capital. In Developing This Analysis, The Book Assembles A Set Of Concepts, Definitions, Indicators, Analytical Frameworks, And Propositions That Establish The Main Parameters Of Coalitional Presidentialism. In This Way, Coalitional Presidentialism In Comparative Perspective Provides Crucial Insights Into This Mode Of Governance. Oxford Studies In Democratization Is A Series For Scholars And Students Of Comparative Politics And Related Disciplines. Volumes Concentrate On The Comparative Study Of The Democratization Process That Accompanied The Decline And Termination Of The Cold War. The Geographical Focus Of The Series Is Primarily Latin America, The Caribbean, Southern And Eastern Europe, And Relevant Experiences In Africa And Asia. 1. The Rise Of Minority Presidentialism -- 2. Coalitional Presidentialism In Cross-regional Perspective -- 3. The Embedded Costs Of Power Sharing: Coalition Formation In Multiparty Presidentialism -- 4. Toward A Framework For Analysis: The Presidential Toolbox -- 5. Legislative Powers And Coalition Management -- 6. Cabinet Authority And Coalition Management -- 7. Partisan Powers And Coalition Management -- 8. Budgetary Authority And Coalition Management -- 9. The Exchange Of Favours And Coalition Management -- 10. Minority Presidents In A Coalitional World: Comparative Perspectives On The Tools Of Governance --appendix A: English Version Of Cpp Survey Questionnaire. Paul Chaisty, Nic Cheeseman, Timothy J. Power. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 249-261) And Index.