Myron Weiner

Political Integration and Political Development

The integration problems faced by new nations should be viewed as part of an historical process of political de velopment through which Western political systems have gone as well. It is during the transitional phase of political develop ment, as governments begin to assume or attempt to assume more functions, that integration problems become most acute. The most common integration problems involve problems of na tional identity, territorial control, the establishment of norms for the handling of public conflict, the relationship between gov ernors and the governed, and the problems of organizing indi viduals for the achievement of common purposes. The major options available to governments faced with integration prob lems are explored.

Empirical Democratic Theory and the Transition from Authoritarianism to Democracy

The articles by Myron Weiner, Robert Scalapino, and John Brademas are drawn from lectures each prepared as one of 40 American scholars selected as Fulbright Distinguished Fellows to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Fulbright Exchange Program. Weiner, Scalapino, and Brademas were among seven political scientists selected as Distinguished Fellows. The others included: Robert A. Dahl, Theodore J. Lowi, Norman J. Ornstein, and Ellis Sandoz.

The regionalization of indian politics and its implications for economic reform

Is political decentralization an impetus for economic liberalism, or are state and local governments impediments to a rigorous reform process? This article describes Indias federal system, the growth of regional parties and governments, the changing balance of power between Indias state and central governments, and the deterioration of state administrations, then assesses the economic reform and human resource policies of the states. The factors which slow the pace of reforms (politically unstable governments, fiscal populism, organized local interests, patronage and rents for party and government officials) and those that push for reforms (fiscal deficits, the need for investments in infrastructures, and inter-state competition for private investment) are analyzed.

Traditional Role Performance and the Development of Modern Political Parties: The Indian Case

T HE INEFFECTIVENESS OF political parties has been an important factor in the collapse of many parliamentary regimes in the developing areas. In the immediate post-colonial era, nationalist movements in Asia and Africa were converted into political parties. Only in a few of these countries have parties proved capable of running relatively stable and effective governments in a competitive environment. More often, stability and order have been maintained at the price of eliminating competition; either one-party authoritarian states have been created or the governing party has been displaced by military rule. In still other countries, the failure of parties to maintain central authority has resulted in the near disintegration of the nation-state through civil war. Thus in the age-old attempt to balance stable authority and competitive politics, some countries such as Ghana and Guinea have moved toward stable authority without competitive politics or, as in the Congo, competitive politics without stable authority. Relatively few countries-Nigeria, India, Malaysia and the Philippines come to mind-have been able to provide both. An effective political party in a developing nation is not essential for the management of a government which can carry out the wide range and volume of decisions associated with the use of state power for maintaining national integration or stimulating economic development. But surely the existence of some cohesive national leadership with public support and coercive authority to carry out these self-imposed tasks is essential. A party organization is simply one means by which a leadership organizes itself for the dual purpose of controlling government and creating popular support. A successful party may perform many other important functions for a political system including recruiting personnel for government, political socialization, defining political issues, managing societal conflicts and