Monthly Archives: August 2011

Institutions still matter

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David

I try not to stray too much in US politics on this blog, only because that information is so easily obtained elsewhere.  With that being said, party and electoral systems are well within the scope here so please read Hans … Continue reading →

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The Party Still Decides

Posted on August 9, 2011 by David

Walter Shapiro has a good article in the New Republic about the overhyping of the Iowa Straw Polls. Over the years, I have reached a different conclusion: The Iowa Straw Poll is one of the most insidious events in politics. … Continue reading →

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What’s the status of subnational government in Egypt?

Posted on August 9, 2011 by David

Via Heba Fahmy, comes this story regarding the appointment of Adel Labib as Governor of Qena. CAIRO: Most residents of the Upper Egyptian city of Qena welcomed the decision to appoint Adel Labib as the governor for the second time, while others … Continue reading →

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Egyptian alliance demands changes to election laws

Posted on August 7, 2011 by David

In Egypt, people still aren’t happy with the details of the new electoral law.  This is a pretty impressive list of players who are unified in opposition: The alliance refused the law earlier and gave the SCAF and the government … Continue reading →

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Bad argument of the day

Posted on August 7, 2011 by David

Via Yglesias come this paragraph in the Nation: Large debt–and the fear it creates–is a pacifying force. There was no tuition at the City University of New York when I attended one of its colleges in the 1970s, a time … Continue reading →

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Latvia referendum will result in snap election

Posted on August 3, 2011 by David

Latvian voters on July 23 overwhelmingly voted to dissolve parliament in a special referendum. The referendum was called by then-President Valdis Zatlers in May after their parliament, the Saeima, blocked an anti-corruption investigation against a prominent politician. The results set the stage for … Continue reading →

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