Published by De Gruyter Oldenbourg

Volume 23 Issue 1

Issue of Analyse & Kritik

Contents
Journal Overview

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Collective Political Action

A Research Program and Some of Its Results

Karl-Dieter Opp

Page range: 1-20

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Abstract

This paper describes a research program that focuses on the explanation of political protest and its causes. The starting point is Mancur Olson’s theory of collective action. This theory is modified, extended and applied to explain political protest. In particular, it is argued that only a wide version of Rational Choice theory that includes ‘soft’ incentives as well as misperception is capable of providing valid explanations of protest behavior. Another part of the research program is the utilization of survey research to test the predictions about protest behavior that are generated from the wide version of Rational Choice theory. The research program further aims at (a) comparing empirically Rational Choice and alternative propositions, (b) providing micro-macro explanatory models, (c) dynamic theoretical models, and (d) explaining preferences and beliefs which are usually treated as exogenous variables. The paper further reports, some results of the research program.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Spontanität oder Reflexion?

Die Wahl des Informationsverarbeitungsmodus in Entscheidungssituationen

Jörg-Peter Schräpler

Page range: 21-42

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Abstract

Every action decision made by an actor is preceded by a special definition of the situation that first structures the preferences and expectations from which the selection of an action proceeds in a second step. In a conception based on the ‚subjective expected utility‘ (SEU) Esser 1996 modelled the definition of a situation as a dual structure comprising two stages of selection: the selection of the model and the selection of the mode of information processing. In this paper it is shown how a link to a threedimensional picture of the situation emerges from the formal assumptions of these two selection steps. Depending on the selected utility ratios this picture then represents the choice of the mode of information processing as a function of subjective probabilities.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Bessere Politik dank Deregulierung des politischen Prozesses

Reiner Eichenberger

Page range: 43-60

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Abstract

Today political competition and thus the politicians’ incentives to cater for the citizens’ preferences are weakened by protectionist regulations aiming at the politicians’ origin, their incomes and the ‘production process of politics’. This paper suggests abolishing these regulations and institutionalizing an open, international market for politics. Foreign as well as profit-seeking ‘policy producers’ should be allowed to run directly for office without nominating specific individuals. This enables a policy supplier to become active in several countries and jurisdictions and thus to build up an international reputation for being credible, i.e. of sticking to his promises and not exploiting the voters after election. The deregulation programme strengthens the influence of the weakly organized social groups and the governments' incentives to pursue what is of general interest.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Deregulierung ist kein Allheilmittel!

Was gut für die Wirtschaft ist, muss nicht gut für die Politik sein. Kritische Anmerkungen zu Reiner Eichenberger: „Bessere Politik dank Deregulierung des politischen Prozesses“

Stefan Marschall

Page range: 61-68

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Abstract

This paper responds to the reform agenda of Reiner Eichenberger who proposes the deregulation of the voting system in order to enhance the competition among the candidates and to improve the responsiveness of elected representatives. Based on the theory of parliamentary representation the paper argues that a simple transfer of economic principles into the realm of politics comes to its limits where the differences between the economic and political systems are significant. Regulation in politics is necessary and unavoidable where the abuse of political power is to be prevented.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Die Bretter, die gebohrt werden, bleiben dick

Deregulierung der Politik scheitert an den Bedingungen der Massendemokratie. Kommentar zu Reiner Eichenberger: „Bessere Politik dank Deregulierung des politischen Prozesses“

Christoph Strünck

Page range: 69-75

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Abstract

Deregulation of the political process could be an instrument to reduce the overwhelming power of specialised interest groups and tighten the links between voters and politicians. But deregulation causes serious problems. Reputation pooling by international political enterprises depends on a transnational public sphere which is quite unrealistic. And political enterprises are not capable of shaping candidates for public service. Putting political finance in the hands of voters simply moves lobbying activities to the level of voters and does not change the asymmetrical influence of interest groups. Above all, the idea that political enterprises exchange experts in parliament does not fit into the crucial principle of parliamentary government and political responsibility.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Politik ohne Wettbewerbshindernisse

Kommentar zu Reiner Eichenberger: „Bessere Politik dank Deregulierung des politischen Prozesses“

Erich Weede

Page range: 76-80

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Abstract

Whereas Eichenberger advocates better policies by deregulation of politics, politicians and political scientists in Western Europe are quite satisfied with Western democracies and their performance. This satisfaction is based on neglecting the insights from ‘Public Choice’ theorizing as well as on negating the coming pension crisis in ageing societies. Including Eichenberger’s ideas there are now five schools of thought about how to improve Western democracies: more direct democracy, strengthening market-preserving federalism, less law and fewer lawyers, exploiting international rivalries for limiting government and, now, dismantling the protection from foreign competition which elected representatives enjoy almost everywhere in the West.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Markt statt Politik?

Kommentar zu Reiner Eichenberger: „Bessere Politik dank Deregulierung des politischen Prozesses“

Reinhard Zintl

Page range: 81-87

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Abstract

Eichenberger’s ‚deregulation‘ concept is designed to make political competition as similar to market competition as possible. The aim is to replace the competition of encompassing programmes by the competition of issue specific policies. In my view this idea is mistaken. First, it is by no means clear how the proposed institutions might work, since no hint is given how issue specific policy supply and unspecific political demand are matched. Second, and more important, the conception is normatively unconvincing. It aims at dissolving the political decisions of a society into an aggregate of separate and mutually independent issue specific policy decisions - which would destroy the role politics has in a market society, namely, to provide market-complementary and not just market-analogous decisions.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Will a Basic Income Do Justice to Women?

A Contribution to the Symposium on P. Van Parijs ’s “Real Freedom for All” in Analyse & Kritik 22(2)

Ingrid Robeyns

Page range: 88-105

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Abstract

This article addresses the question whether a basic income will be a just social policy for women. The implementation of a basic income will have different effects for different groups of women, some of them clearly positive, some of them negative. The real issues that concern feminist critics of a basic income are the gender-related constraints on choices and the current gender division of labour, which are arguably both playing at the disadvantage of women. It is argued that those issues are not adequately addressed by a basic income proposal alone, and therefore basic income has to be part of a larger packet of social policy measures if it wants to maximise real freedom for all.

Publicly Available May 14, 2016

Real Freedom, the Market and the Family

A Reply to Seven Critics

Philippe Van Parijs

Page range: 106-131

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Abstract

The conception of social justice presented and defended in Philippe Van Parijs’ Real Freedom for All entails, among other implications, the justification of an unconditional basic income. It was the subject of seven critical comments that forms issue 22(2) and part of 23(1) of Analyse & Kritik. In this article a comprehensive reply is offered.

About this journal

ANALYSE & KRITIK

is devoted to the fundamental issues of empirical and normative social theory
is directed at social scientists and social philosophers who combine commitment to political and moral enlightenment with argumentative rigour and conceptual clarity
develops social theorizing in connection with analytical philosophy and philosophy of science
promotes the dialogue between Anglo-American and Continental traditions in the social sciences and ethics
publishes articles in English