The Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions

This project assembles an international team of scholars to examine the processes of institutional reform that are affecting contemporary advanced industrial democracies. The project focuses on reforms that expand citizen access and influence within the democratic process that may be transforming the nature of contemporary democracy.

The project is directed by Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley), Russell Dalton (UC Irvine), and Susan Scarrow (University of Houston). It is a collaborative research project between the Center for the Study of Democracy, UC Irvine, and the Institute for Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley. Funding was provided by the Institute for European Studies, University of California, Berkeley and by the Rockefeller Foundation.

The book from the project, Democracy Transformed, was published by Oxford University Press, and information on the book and the project are available through the following links:

The Book is Available on Amazon.com

New Forms of Democracy?

The Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions

 

This conference was held at the Villa Serbelloni Conference Center of the Rockefeller Foundation. We appreciate their support for the project.

 

September 9-13, 2002

Bellagio Study & Conference Center

Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio, Italy

 

Monday, September 9

 

Welcoming Remarks

Bruce Cain, Russell J. Dalton, Susan Scarrow

 

Session 1: Breakout Groups: Conceptualizing the Consequences of Institutional Change

Group I: Electoral Politics, Moderator: Susan Scarrow

Group II: Non-electoral Politics, Moderator: Bruce E. Cain

 

Tuesday, September 10

 

Session 2: The OECD Studies of Democratic Change

Moderator: Russell J. Dalton, University of California, Irvine

 

"The OECD Studies on Governmental Change"

Joanne Caddy, OECD, Paris

 

Discussants: Bruce Cain, UC Berkeley

David Farrell, University of Manchester

Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

 

Session 3: Theorizing about Democratic Institutional Change

Moderator: Susan Scarrow, University of Houston

 

"A Second Transformation of Democracy?"

Mark Warren, Georgetown University

 

Discussants: Gillian Peele, Oxford University

 

Session 4: Changes in Governmental Structures

Moderator: David M. Farrell, University of Manchester

 

"Knowledge is Power: The Diffusion of Freedom of Information Laws in Western Democracies"

Bruce E. Cain, University of California, Berkeley

Sergio Fabrinni, University of Trento

Patrick Egan, University of California, Berkeley

 

"The Decentralization of Governance: Regional and Local Delegation"

Christopher Ansell, University of California, Berkeley

Jane Gingrich, University of California, Berkeley

 

Discussant: John Aldrich, Duke University

 

Session 5: Administrative and Legal Reforms

Moderator: Bruce E. Cain, University of California, Berkeley

 

"The Administrative Revolution: Populist Reforms of the Administrative State

Christopher Ansell, University of California, Berkeley

Jane Gingrich, University of California, Berkeley

 

"Opening up the Bureaucracy through Culture Governance"

Henrik P. Bang, University of Copenhagen

 

"Participation, Representative Democracy, and the Courts"

Alec Stone-Sweet, Oxford University and University of California, Irvine

Rachel Cichowski, University of Washington

 

Discussant: Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

 

Wednesday, September 11

 

Session 6: Changes in the Electoral Arena

Moderator: Henrik Bang, University of Copenhagen

 

"Expanding the Electoral Marketplace"

Mark Gray, University of California, Irvine

Russell J. Dalton, University of California, Irvine

 

"Making Democracy More Direct? Elections that Minimize the Party Role"

Susan E. Scarrow, University of Houston

 

Discussant: Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin

 

Session 7: Partisan Change

Moderator: Russell Dalton, University of California, Irvine

 

"Political Parties and the Rhetoric and Realities of Democratization"

Miki Caul Kittilson, University of Texas, San Antonio

Susan E. Scarrow, University of Houston

 

"Changing Party Access to Politics"

Shaun Bowler, University of California, Riverside

Elisabeth Carter, University of Manchester

David M. Farrell, University of Manchester

 

Discussant: John Aldrich, Duke University

 

Cruise on Lake Como & Remembrance of 9/11/01

(Marc Levin, cruise captain)

 

Afternoon Informal discussion sessions

 

Thursday, September 12

 

Session 8: Breakout Groups: The Consequences of Institutional Change

 

Group I: Electoral Politics, Moderator: Susan Scarrow

Group II: Non-electoral Politics, Moderator: Bruce E. Cain

 

Session 9: Presentations by Breakout Groups

 

Session 10: The Implications of Institutional Change for Democratic Politics

Moderators: Bruce E. Cain, University of California, Berkeley

Russell J. Dalton, University of California, Irvine

Susan Scarrow, University of Houston

 

Closing Session: The Next Steps

Moderators: Bruce E. Cain, University of California, Berkeley

Russell J. Dalton, University of California, Irvine

Susan Scarrow, University of Houston

 

New Forms of Democracy?

The Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions

 

UC BERKELEY CONFERENCE

UC Berkeley Institute of European Studies(IES)

UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies(IGS)

119 Moses Hall

Friday-Saturday, May 17-18, 2002

 

Convenors:

Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley), Russell Dalton (UC Irvine), Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

Session I: Dimensions of Institutional Change

Presenter: Russell Dalton (UC Irvine)

 

Electoral Politics

 

Session II - Change within the Political Parties

"Political Parties and the Rhetoric and Realities of DemocratizationPolitical Parties and the Rhetoric and Realities of Democratization"

Presenters: Miki Caul Kittleson (SUNY Binghamton) and Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

"Changing Party Access to Politics"

Presenters: Shaun Bowler (UC Riverside), Elisabeth Carter (University of Manchester), and David Farrell (University of Manchester)

 

Discussant: Austin Ranney (UC Berkeley)

 

Session III - Change in Elections

"Making Democracy More Direct? Elections that Minimize the Party Role"

Presenter: Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

"The Amount of Electing"

Presenters: Mark Gray (UC Irvine)

 

Discussant: Henry Brady (UC Berkeley)

David Farrell (University of Manchester)

 

Hosted Lunch & Discussions

 

Non-Electoral Politics

 

Session IV- Citizen Access to Information and Administrative Process

"Knowledge is Power: The Diffusion of Freedom of Information Laws in Western Democracies"

Presenters: Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley) and Sergio Fabbrini (University of Trento)

 

"The Administrative Revolution: Populist Reforms of the Administrative State"

Presenter: Chris Ansell (UC Berkeley)

 

Discussant: E. Schroeder (UC Berkeley)

Mark Warren (Georgetown University)

 

Saturday, May 18, 2002

 

Session V- Bureaucracy and the Courts

 

"Opening up the Bureaucracy: Through Culture Governance"

Presenter: Henrik P. Bang (University of Copenhagen)

 

"Participation, Representative Democracy, and the Courts"

Presenter: Alec Stone-Sweet (UC Irvine & Oxford University) and Rachel Cichowski(University of Washington)

 

Discussant: Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley)

Chris Ansell (UC Berkeley)

 

Session VI- Roundtable: Democracy in Transition?

 

Convenors:

Bruce E. Cain (UC Berkeley), Russell Dalton (UC Irvine), Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

New Forms of Democracy?

The Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions

 

Second Planning Meeting

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies(IGS)

119 Moses Hall

9 am to 5 pm

 

The purpose of this second planning meeting is to hold informal discussions on the collaborative international research project on the pressures for political reform of democratic institutions.

 

Convenors:

 

Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley)

Russ Dalton (UC Irvine)

Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

Session I: Project Structure and Introduction

 

Presenter: Russ Dalton (UC Irvine)

 

Electoral Politics

 

Session II - Political Parties

Topic: Intraparty Democracy

Presenters: Miki Caul (SUNY Binghamton) and Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

Topic: Changing Party Access to Politics

Presenters: Shaun Bowler (UC Riverside), Elisabeth Carter ( University of Manchester), and David Farrell (University of Manchester)

 

Session III - Elections

Topic: The Amount of Electing

Presenters: Mark Gray (UC Irvine) and Martin Wattenberg (UC Irvine)

 

Topic: Non-party Elections

Presenter: Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

 

Non-Electoral Politics

Session IV- Citizen Access to Information and Administrative Process

Topic: Knowledge is Power

Presenters: Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley) and Sergio Fabbrini (University of Trento)

 

Topic: Expansion of Administrative Contact Points

Presenter: Chris Ansell (UC Berkeley)

 

Session V- Bureacracy and the Courts

Topic: Opening up the Bureacracy

Presenter: Henrik P. Bang (University of Copenhagen)

 

Topic: Access through the Courts

Presenter: Alec Stone-Sweet (UC Irvine & Oxford University) and Rachel Cichowski (UC Irvine)

Session VI- Project Development, Data Collection & Next Steps

Convenors:

Bruce E. Cain (UC Berkeley), Russell Dalton (UC Irvine), and Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

  

New Forms of Democracy?

The Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions

 

First Planning Conference

January 13, 2001

Riviera Resort and Racquet Club

Palm Springs, CA

 

This was the first informal planning group meeting to discuss the potential for a collaborative international research project on the pressures for political reform of democratic institutions.

 

I. Introduction

Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley)

Russell Dalton (UC Irvine)

 

II. Theoretical Framework for Studying Democratic Institutional Change

Discussants:

Chris Ansell (UC Berkeley)

Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

Martin Wattenberg (UC Irvine)

Shaun Bowler (UC Riverside)

 

III. Translating Theory into Research

Discussants:

Susan Scarrow (University of Houston)

Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley)

David Farrell (University of Manchester)

 

III. Project Development

Discussants:

Bruce Cain (UC Berkeley)

Russell Dalton (UC Irvine)