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Star Wars: the Fascism Awakens Representation and Its Failure from the Weimar Republic to the Galactic Senate Chapman Rackaway University of West Georgia
STAR WARS: THE FASCISM AWAKENS 7 Star Wars: The Fascism Awakens Representation and its Failure from the Weimar Republic to the Galactic Senate Chapman Rackaway University of West Georgia Whether in science fiction or the establishment of an earthly democracy, constitutional design matters especially in the realm of representation. Democracies, no matter how strong or fragile, can fail under the influence of a poorly constructed representation plan. Two strong examples of representational failure emerge from the post-WWI Weimar Republic and the Galactic Republic’s Senate from the Star Wars saga. Both legislatures featured a combination of overbroad representation without minimum thresholds for minor parties to be elected to the legislature and multiple non- citizen constituencies represented in the body. As a result both the Weimar Reichstag and the Galactic Senate fell prey to a power-hungry manipulating zealot who used the divisions within their legislature to accumulate power. As a result, both democracies failed and became tyrannical governments under despotic leaders who eventually would be removed but only after wars of massive casualties. Representation matters, and both the Weimer legislature and Galactic Senate show the problems in designing democratic governments to fairly represent diverse populations while simultaneously limiting the ability of fringe groups to emerge. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of representative democracies. A poor evil is for good men to do nothing.” constitutional design can even lead to tyranny. – Edmund Burke (1848) Among the flaws most potentially damaging to a republic is a faulty representational “So this is how liberty dies … with structure. Republics can actually build too thunderous applause.” - Padme Amidala (Star much representation into their structures, the Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, 2005) result of which is tyranny as a byproduct of democratic failure. -
1 Independence Regained
1 INDEPENDENCE REGAINED The history of Poland in the modern era has been characterised by salient vicissitudes: outstanding victories and tragic defeats, soaring optimism and the deepest despair, heroic sacrifice and craven subser- vience. Underpinning all of these experiences and emotions, however, are the interrelated themes of national freedom, independence and sovereignty, which were sometimes lost, then regained, but never forgotten or abandoned. They, more than anything else, shaped Poland’s destiny in the modern era. And if there is one single, fundamental point of reference, then it is unquestionably the Partitions of the eighteenth century which resulted in Poland’s disappearance from the map of Europe for well over a century. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as the Polish State was consti- tuted since the mid-sixteenth century, was for the next two hundred years one of the largest and most powerful in Europe, occupying a huge swathe of territory stretching from the area around Poznań in the west to far-off Muscovy in the east, and from Livonia in the north to the edge of the Ottoman Empire in the south. Famous kings, such as Stefan Batory (1575–86) and Jan Sobieski III (1674–96), and great landowning families, the Lubomirskis, Radziwiłłs, Zamoyskis, Czartoryskis and the like, played a leading role in moulding the economic, political and social life of the country and bringing it unprecedented international prestige. By the beginning of the eighteenth century, however, the first unmistakable signs of decline appeared, and were accentuated by the emergence of ambitious and expansionist neighbours in Russia, Prussia and Austria. -
The Austrian Press Act 1862 Between the House of Lords and the House of Deputies
- 581 - LAWMAKING PROCEDURE UNDER THE RULE OF THE FEBRUARY PATENT : THE AUSTRIAN PRESS ACT 1862 BETWEEN THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES Thomas Olechowski (Institut für Rechts-und Verfassungsgeschichte, Wien) I. The so-called February Patent The so-called February Patent1, sanctioned by emperor Franz Joseph on 26th February 1861, is one of the most remarkable documents in Austrian constitutional history : It can bee seen as an intermediate station in the transformation from neoabsolutism to constitutionalism. This transformation became necessary because of the military defeat Franz Joseph had to suffer in Italy in 1859 and of the financial crisis, which was a consequence of the lost war. The bourgeoisie was willing to subscribe Government bonds to turn off the 1 Reichsgesetzblatt für das Kaiserthum Österreich 1861/20. An official title doesn’t exist – which was intentional by the emperor and his cabinet, see Horst Brettner- Messler, Hrg, Die Ministerien Erzherzog Rainer und Mensdorff (= Die Protokolle des Österreichischen Ministerrates 1848–1867, V/1, Wien, 1977) p. 69, 96. In the literature, the name « Februarpatent », sometimes « Februarverfassung » (February constitution), is common, see f.e. Edmund Bernatzik, Die österreichischen Verfassungsgesetze, Wien2, 1991, Nr VIII ; Fritz Fellner, Das « Februarpatent » von 1861. Entstehung und Bedeutung, Mitteilungen des Instituts für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung 63, Wien, 1955, p. 549–564, especially 554 f ; Andreas Gottsmann, Der Reichstag 1848/49 und der Reichsrat 1861 bis 1865, in Helmut Rumpler / Peter Urbanitsch, Hrg, Die Habsburgermonarchie VII, Wien, 2000, p. 569–665, esp 622 ; Lothar Höbelt, Parteien und Fraktionen im cisleithanischen Reichsrat, ibidem, p. 895–1006, esp 895, and many others. -
Austrian Federalism in Comparative Perspective
CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN STUDIES | VOLUME 24 Bischof, Karlhofer (Eds.), Williamson (Guest Ed.) • 1914: Aus tria-Hungary, the Origins, and the First Year of World War I War of World the Origins, and First Year tria-Hungary, Austrian Federalism in Comparative Perspective Günter Bischof AustrianFerdinand Federalism Karlhofer (Eds.) in Comparative Perspective Günter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer (Eds.) UNO UNO PRESS innsbruck university press UNO PRESS innsbruck university press Austrian Federalism in ŽŵƉĂƌĂƟǀĞWĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ Günter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer (Eds.) CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN STUDIES | VOLUME 24 UNO PRESS innsbruck university press Copyright © 2015 by University of New Orleans Press All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage nd retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to UNO Press, University of New Orleans, LA 138, 2000 Lakeshore Drive. New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA. www.unopress.org. Printed in the United States of America Book design by Allison Reu and Alex Dimeff Cover photo © Parlamentsdirektion Published in the United States by Published and distributed in Europe University of New Orleans Press by Innsbruck University Press ISBN: 9781608011124 ISBN: 9783902936691 UNO PRESS Publication of this volume has been made possible through generous grants from the the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs in Vienna through the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York, as well as the Federal Ministry of Economics, Science, and Research through the Austrian Academic Exchange Service (ÖAAD). The Austrian Marshall Plan Anniversary Foundation in Vienna has been very generous in supporting Center Austria: The Austrian Marshall Plan Center for European Studies at the University of New Orleans and its publications series. -
FC-Germany.Pdf
Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) RUDOLF HRBEK 1 history and development of federalism Federalism is one of the key features of the political system of Ger- many. This is based on historical foundations and was re-established in the post-World War II situation. Before political unification in 1871 (at which time the German Empire under Prussian leadership was estab- lished), “Germany” consisted of a patchwork of states. These states formed the “Old Empire” (Altes Reich) with a common institution, the so-called Immerwährender Reichstag in Regensburg (1663–1806), com- posed of representatives of the respective territories. Its major features were power-sharing, bargaining and compromise-seeking. Following the dissolution of that Empire in 1806, 39 territories formed, under Napoleon’s protectorate, the Rheinbund (Rhine- Confederation) which was unwieldy and inefficient. The Vienna Congress in 1815 established the confederal Deutscher Bund, as suc- cessor of the Old Empire and with the Bundesrat (in Frankfurt) as the supreme but weak institution. Following a revolution in 1848, a constituent assembly (Frankfurter Paulskirche) established an alterna- tive structure (a democratic federation similar to the American model, but again with much weight given to the executives from the participating entities). Due to the resistance of Austria and Prussia, however, this model could not be realized. Political unification was then achieved under Prussia’s leadership in two subsequent steps: in 1867 Otto von Bismarck formed the Norddeutscher Bund, which then 151 Germany developed into the German Empire, with the larger states in south- ern Germany as additional members. The Empire was a federation of 25 states of which Prussia was the dominant entity. -
European Autonomy and Diversity Papers
CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Directory of Open Access Journals European Diversity and Autonomy Papers EDAP 5/2006 The Paradox of Federal Bicameralism Giancarlo Doria www.eurac.edu/edap Managing editors: Emma Lantschner / Francesco Palermo / Gabriel N. Toggenburg Editorial Board: In alphabetical order: Craufurd Smith Rachel (University of Edinburgh, UK) Dani Marco (Università di Trento, I) De Witte Bruno (European University Institute, I) Gamper Anna (Universität Innsbruck, A) Henrard Kristin (University of Groningen, NL) Kujovich Gil (Vermont Law School, US) Kymlicka Will (Queens University, CAN) Marko Joseph (Universität Graz, A) Nic Shuibhne Niamh (University of Edinburgh, UK) Ortino Sergio (Università di Firenze, I) Packer John (Tufts University, US) Poggeschi Giovanni (Università di Lecce, I) Sasse Gwendolyn (London School of Economics, UK) Tarr William (Rutgers University, US) Teachout Peter (Vermont Law School, US) Toniatti Roberto (Università di Trento, I) Woelk Jens (Università di Trento, I) Assistant to the Managing editors: Paulina M. Borowska Europäische Akademie Bozen Accademia Europea Bolzano Drususallee, 1 Viale Druso, 1 39100 Bozen - Italien 39100 Bolzano - Italia Tel. +39 0471 055200 Tel. +39 0471 055200 Fax +39 0471 055299 Fax +39 0471 055299 [email protected] [email protected] www.eurac.edu/edap www.eurac.edu/edap Copyright Information: Any sort of reproduction - including excerpts - is permitted only when indicating the exact EDAP source. Please quote EDAP as indicated in the following example: Gabriel N. Toggenburg, “The Debate on European Values and the Case of Cultural Diversity”, 1 European Diversity and Autonomy Papers- EDAP (2004), 10, at www.eurac.edu/edap. -
European Autonomy and Diversity Papers
European Diversity and Autonomy Papers EDAP 5/2006 The Paradox of Federal Bicameralism Giancarlo Doria www.eurac.edu/edap Managing editors: Emma Lantschner / Francesco Palermo / Gabriel N. Toggenburg Editorial Board: In alphabetical order: Craufurd Smith Rachel (University of Edinburgh, UK) Dani Marco (Università di Trento, I) De Witte Bruno (European University Institute, I) Gamper Anna (Universität Innsbruck, A) Henrard Kristin (University of Groningen, NL) Kujovich Gil (Vermont Law School, US) Kymlicka Will (Queens University, CAN) Marko Joseph (Universität Graz, A) Nic Shuibhne Niamh (University of Edinburgh, UK) Ortino Sergio (Università di Firenze, I) Packer John (Tufts University, US) Poggeschi Giovanni (Università di Lecce, I) Sasse Gwendolyn (London School of Economics, UK) Tarr William (Rutgers University, US) Teachout Peter (Vermont Law School, US) Toniatti Roberto (Università di Trento, I) Woelk Jens (Università di Trento, I) Assistant to the Managing editors: Paulina M. Borowska Europäische Akademie Bozen Accademia Europea Bolzano Drususallee, 1 Viale Druso, 1 39100 Bozen - Italien 39100 Bolzano - Italia Tel. +39 0471 055200 Tel. +39 0471 055200 Fax +39 0471 055299 Fax +39 0471 055299 [email protected] [email protected] www.eurac.edu/edap www.eurac.edu/edap Copyright Information: Any sort of reproduction - including excerpts - is permitted only when indicating the exact EDAP source. Please quote EDAP as indicated in the following example: Gabriel N. Toggenburg, “The Debate on European Values and the Case of Cultural Diversity”, 1 European Diversity and Autonomy Papers- EDAP (2004), 10, at www.eurac.edu/edap. www.eurac.edu/edap Doria – The Paradox of Federal Bicameralism Abstract Although still regarded by many as an essential feature of a truly federal government, the institution of the federal chamber appears to be experiencing a deep crisis. -
Bicameralism in Italy. 150 Years of Poor Design, Disappointing Performances, Aborted Reforms
1 Bicameralism in Italy. 150 Years of Poor Design, Disappointing Performances, Aborted Reforms . Carlo FUSARO 1. Introduction I keep being surprised how certain issues tend to recur in similar ways in very different countries and jurisdictions. The issue we are discussing confirms that to my eyes. A long time ago I realized how Japan and Italy (along with deep and notorious cultural and historical differences) share a large set of commonalities when it comes to political and constitutional issues. May be this has to do with the fact that both Nations made the effort to build a modern State much later than others and both only during the second half of the Nineteenth century. Concerning in particular the second Chamber and how the House of Councillors on one hand and the Italian Senate on the other hand were born, one should note that in both cases the core feature has proven to be the same: the priority choice in favour of direct election in both instances brought the constitution makers to give the two chambers similar (in the Italian case identical) powers and produced two very little differentiated bicameral Parliaments. This not to mention the striking similarities between the two Upper Chambers of the Italian Statute of King Albert and of the Japanese Meiji Constitution. Let me introduce the content of this article in a nutshell. At first I will submit a short set of general comparative remarks (par. 2); these will be followed by a part devoted to the origin and the evolution of the Italian bicameral Parliament (par. -
The Länder and German Federalism Prelims 27/5/03 11:39 Am Page Ii
GPOLGunlicks cover 21/5/2003 5:22 pm Page 1 Issues in German Politics The Länder This book provides a detailed introduction to how the Länder (the sixteen states of Germany) function not only within the country itself but also within the wider context of European political affairs. Some knowledge of the role of the Länder is and German federalism essential to an understanding of the political system as well as of German federalism. The Länder This book traces the origin of the Länder. It looks at their place in the constitutional order of the country and the political and administrative system. Their organization and administration are fully covered, as is their financing. Parties and elections in the Länder and the controversial roles of parliaments and deputies are also examined. and German Because of their role in the Bundesrat, the second legislative chamber, the Lander are clearly an important part of the national legislative process. They participate in policy-making with regard to the European Union, and have limited influence on Germany's foreign affairs outside of Europe. This is the first English language book that considers the Länder in this depth. federalism Arthur Gunlicks is a professor of political science and chair of the department at the University of Richmond, Virginia Gunlicks Arthur Gunlicks ISBN 0-7190-6533-X 9 780719 065330 prelims 27/5/03 11:39 am Page i The Länder and German federalism prelims 27/5/03 11:39 am Page ii ISSUES IN GERMAN POLITICS Edited by Professor Charlie Jeffery, Institute for German Studies Dr Charles Lees, University of Sussex Issues in German Politics is a major new series on contemporary Germany. -
Self-Determination, Minority Rights, and Constitutional Accommodation: the Example of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
Michigan Journal of International Law Volume 13 Issue 1 1991 Self-Determination, Minority Rights, and Constitutional Accommodation: The Example of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic Claudia Saladin University of Michigan Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, International Law Commons, and the Rule of Law Commons Recommended Citation Claudia Saladin, Self-Determination, Minority Rights, and Constitutional Accommodation: The Example of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, 13 MICH. J. INT'L L. 172 (1991). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil/vol13/iss1/7 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Michigan Journal of International Law at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Michigan Journal of International Law by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT NOTES SELF-DETERMINATION, MINORITY RIGHTS, AND CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMODATION: THE EXAMPLE OF THE CZECH AND SLOVAK FEDERAL REPUBLIC Claudia Saladin * Perhaps the greatest threat to establishment of stable democracies in Eastern Europe is ethnic tension.I Self-determination and the rights of minorities are especially important issues for these countries be- cause of their ethnically diverse populations. As the following discus- sion will demonstrate, the issues of self-determination and minority rights are closely related to one another and to the issue of democratic legitimacy. Using the example of current constitutional reform and debate in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR), this Note will describe the interrelationship of these issues. -
Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: the Case of the German Federal Council
Syracuse University SURFACE Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs Affairs 1-31-2013 Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: The Case of the German Federal Council Kathleen A. Thelen Sebastian Karcher Syracuse University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/miga Part of the Comparative Politics Commons Recommended Citation Thelen, Kathleen A. and Karcher, Sebastian, "Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: The Case of the German Federal Council" (2013). Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. 3. https://surface.syr.edu/miga/3 This Book Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: The Case of the German Federal Council1 Kathleen Thelen and Sebastian Karcher MIT and Northwestern University December 20, 2011 Published as: Thelen, Kathleen A, and Sebastian Karcher. 2013. “Resilience and Change in Federal Institutions: The Case of the German Federal Council.” In Federal Dynamics: Continuity, Change, and the Varieties of Federalism, edited by Jörg Broschek and Arthur Benz, 117–39. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199652990.003.0006. Abstract: One of the oldest federalist systems, Germany offers itself as a case study for long-term developments in federalism. Drawing on a burgeoning literature on institutional continuity and change we investigate the development of a key institution of German federalism, the Federal Council (Bundesrat) from the foundation of the German Reich until today. -
Imaginations and Configurations of Polish Society. from the Middle
Imaginations and Configurations of Polish Society Polen: Kultur – Geschichte – Gesellschaft Poland: Culture – History – Society Herausgegeben von / Edited by Yvonne Kleinmann Band 3 / Volume 3 Imaginations and Configurations of Polish Society From the Middle Ages through the Twentieth Century Edited by Yvonne Kleinmann, Jürgen Heyde, Dietlind Hüchtker, Dobrochna Kałwa, Joanna Nalewajko-Kulikov, Katrin Steffen and Tomasz Wiślicz WALLSTEIN VERLAG Gedruckt mit Unterstützung der Deutsch-Polnischen Wissenschafts- stiftung (DPWS) und der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (Emmy Noether- Programm, Geschäftszeichen KL 2201/1-1). Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar. © Wallstein Verlag, Göttingen 2017 www.wallstein-verlag.de Vom Verlag gesetzt aus der Garamond und der Frutiger Umschlaggestaltung: Susanne Gerhards, Düsseldorf © SG-Image unter Verwendung einer Fotografie (Y. Kleinmann) von »Staffel«, Nationalstadion Warschau Lithografie: SchwabScantechnik, Göttingen ISBN (Print) 978-3-8353-1904-2 ISBN (E-Book, pdf) 978-3-8353-2999-7 Contents Acknowledgements . IX Note on Transliteration und Geographical Names . X Yvonne Kleinmann Introductory Remarks . XI An Essay on Polish History Moshe Rosman How Polish Is Polish History? . 19 1. Political Rule and Medieval Society in the Polish Lands: An Anthropologically Inspired Revision Jürgen Heyde Introduction to the Medieval Section . 37 Stanisław Rosik The »Baptism of Poland«: Power, Institution and Theology in the Shaping of Monarchy and Society from the Tenth through Twelfth Centuries . 46 Urszula Sowina Spaces of Communication: Patterns in Polish Towns at the Turn of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Times . 54 Iurii Zazuliak Ius Ruthenicale in Late Medieval Galicia: Critical Reconsiderations .