Veto et Peto: Patterns of Presidential Activism in Central and Eastern Europe

PhD Thesis


Köker, P. 2015. Veto et Peto: Patterns of Presidential Activism in Central and Eastern Europe. PhD Thesis University College London School of Slavonic and East European Studies
AuthorsKöker, P.
TypePhD Thesis
Qualification namePhD
Abstract

The powers of Central and East European presidents have been subject to a number studies. Paradoxically, only few scholars have tried to explain how presidents actually use them. This thesis maps and explains patterns in the activism of democratic presidents in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It proposes a new theoretical framework for the study of presidential activism, defined as the discretionary use of formal presidential powers, and argues that it can be explained by the constitutional setting and the political environment. To test these hypotheses, the study employs a nested analysis approach. Thereby, the patterns of presidential activism are assessed using an original data set on the use of presidents’ legislative powers in nine CEE democracies between 1990 and 2010, and the thesis provides one of the first cross-country empirical analyses of the actual use of presidents’ reactive powers to date. Based on the predictions of the statistical model 12 president-cabinet pairings from four countries (Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) are selected for in-depth case studies. The qualitative analysis then uses the results of 65 semi-structured elite interviews and ample source material to examine the validity of the statistical results. A particular focus is placed on the use of presidential vetoes and presidential activism in government formation, censure and dismissal. The study finds most of the hypotheses confirmed. Most prominently, the findings show that popular presidential elections, cohabitation between president and government as well as a low seat share of the government are the most important predictors of presidential activism. These factors are not only strongly correlated with a more frequent use of powers, but the mechanisms of effect are also demonstrated in case studies. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis suggests intra-governmental divisions as an additional explanatory factor which should be included in future studies of presidential activism.

Year2015
Official URLhttp://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1461326/
Related URLhttp://www.philippkoeker.com
Additional information

Winner of the ECPR Jean Blondel PhD Prize 2016 for the best thesis in politics

Publication process dates
Deposited01 Nov 2016
Completed2015
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/87yqq/veto-et-peto-patterns-of-presidential-activism-in-central-and-eastern-europe

  • 76
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

The effects of majority requirements, selectorate composition and uncertainty in indirect presidential elections: The case of Estonia
Köker, P. 2019. The effects of majority requirements, selectorate composition and uncertainty in indirect presidential elections: The case of Estonia. East European Politics. https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2019.1604339
Why dictators veto: legislation, legitimation and control in Kazakhstan and Russia
Köker, P. 2019. Why dictators veto: legislation, legitimation and control in Kazakhstan and Russia. Democratization. 27 (2), pp. 204-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2019.1678029
Latvia – Party conflict and presidential initiative in government formation
Köker, P. 2016. Latvia – Party conflict and presidential initiative in government formation. Presidential Power.
Latvia – President Bērziņš and the difficulties of forming a new government
Köker, P. 2013. Latvia – President Bērziņš and the difficulties of forming a new government. Presidential Power.
Presidential activism and veto power in central and eastern Europe
Köker, P. 2017. Presidential activism and veto power in central and eastern Europe. London Palgrave Macmillan.
Corruption studies for the twenty-first century: paradigm shifts and innovative approaches
Ledeneva, A., Bratu, R. and Köker, P. 2017. Corruption studies for the twenty-first century: paradigm shifts and innovative approaches. The Slavonic and East European Review (SEER). 95 (1), pp. 1-20.
Party novelty and congruence: a new approach to measuring party change and volatility
Sikk, A. and Köker, P. 2017. Party novelty and congruence: a new approach to measuring party change and volatility. Party Politics.
Book review: Hloušek, Vít, ed., 2013 Presidents above parties? Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, their formal competencies and informal power
Köker, P. 2015. Book review: Hloušek, Vít, ed., 2013 Presidents above parties? Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, their formal competencies and informal power. CEU Political Science Review. 10 (1-2), pp. 147-150.
Book review: Institutional design and party government in post-Communist Europe
Köker, P. 2015. Book review: Institutional design and party government in post-Communist Europe. Europe-Asia Studies. 67 (10), pp. 1727-1728. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2015.1102511
Book review: Democracy in Poland: representation, participation, competition and accountability since 1989
Köker, P. 2016. Book review: Democracy in Poland: representation, participation, competition and accountability since 1989. East European Politics. 32 (3), pp. 401-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/21599165.2016.1184145
Semi-structured elite interviews in a nested analysis framework: studying presidential activism in Central and Eastern Europe
Köker, P. 2014. Semi-structured elite interviews in a nested analysis framework: studying presidential activism in Central and Eastern Europe. SAGE Research Methods Cases. https://doi.org/10.4135/978144627305014534927