Call for papers-Party Finance And Corruption

Party Finance And Corruption
International conference in Riga, Latvia
Call for papers
More than 40 years have passed since democracies started introducing direct state subsidies to political parties. The need to battle corruption and diminish undue influence was cited to explain and support the move in public discussions.
At the turn of the century, it appears that subsidies to political parties have yielded mixed, even unexpected results. While corruption seems not to increase in advanced democracies and party organizations continue to receive much-needed financial support, questionable deals involving top party officials and examples of undue political influence continue to surface. Moreover, organizational structures of parties in many countries appear to have adjusted to the new financial circumstances, changing the relationship between parties and the society, party elites and rank-and-file members.
Many East European countries have been swift in adopting institutional arrangements similar to ones in advanced democracies, with direct party subsidies being one of them. However, outcomes of these innovations are yet to be analyzed.
The conference will, thus, seek answers to a wide array of questions pertaining to party finance and corruption, paying particular attention to processes in Eastern Europe and NIS:

What were the reasons behind the introduction of direct state subsidies?
What are the effects of state subsidies on political system as a whole and political parties specifically?
Have the subsidies lived up to initial expectations?
Have the subsidies made political actors more receptive of societal preferences?
What were the reasons for maintaining status quo in countries without state subsidies?
Has the influence of major donors increased as a consequence of status quo?
What institutional solutions are available to restrict undue political influence?
What party financial mechanisms can be used to restrict undue political influence?
The conference is scheduled for October 27-29, 2000 in Riga, Latvia. Please submit your paper proposal by May 1, 2000.
For details or to submit a proposal (along with your CV), please contact Janis Ikstens:
Email: [email protected]
Phone/fax: +1-212-222-0284

Last updated: April 2000

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