Rolf Frankenberger

What Drives States to Support Renewable Energy

Why do states support electricity generation from renewable energy sources? Lyon/ Yin (2010), Chandler (2009), and Huang et al. (2007) have answered this question for the adoption of renewable portfolio standards (RPS) at the U.S. state level. This article supplements their work by testing the core hypotheses on the EU27 sample between 1990 and 2010. Furthermore, the article asks why the majority of EU states relies on feed-in-tariffs (FIT). The study conducts logistic time series cross-section regression analyses that run on a hazard model. Evidence in support of private interest theory and public interest theory is provided. (a) The existence of a solar energy association increases the probability of a state to adopt regulation. (b) Solar radiation, and (c) the unemployment rate also increase the odds. (d) Electricity market concentration decreases the probability of transition.

Spielarten des inkorporierten Kapitalismus

Auch wenn der moderne Kapitalismus als das universale okonomische Interaktionsmuster in einer globalisierten Welt gelten kann, so steht er doch fur eine asymmetrische Entwicklung. Welche Spielarten des Kapitalismus sich dabei auch und gerade im globalen Suden herausbilden, ist die zentrale Frage dieses Beitrags. Entlang uberwiegend makrookonomischer Faktoren untersuchen die Autoren mit einer Cluster- und Varianzanalyse die strukturellen Muster des globalen Kapitalismus. Dabei lassen sich die von Hall und Soskice formulierten liberalen und koordinierten Typen ebenso nachweisen wie eine sudosteuropaische Spielart. Ein neuer Befund ist die Existenz eines quer zu Nord und Sud liegenden Finanzmarkt-Clusters. Fur den globalen Suden konnen sowohl transregionale als auch regionale Gruppen gebildet werden, die sich in Performanz und institutioneller Ausgestaltung unterscheiden. Wahrend die Rentenokonomie eine konsistente Gruppe bilden, kann die These einer BRIC-Variante des Kapitalismus eindeutig widerlegt werden. Gemeinsam ist den Clustern des globalen Sudens die Rolle des Staates als (zentraler) kapitalistischer Akteur, der die Okonomie inkorporiert und kontrolliert.

Elections, Democratic Regression and Transitions to Autocracy: Lessons from Russia and Venezuela

Russia and Venezuela have both attempted to close (and to a great degree have achieved the closure of) their respective political systems by circumventing or even eliminating democratic standards. Interestingly, elections are both targets of dedemocratization and a central means of de-democratization. To assess the role of elections in processes of democratic regression, we discuss their quality and functions in different systemic contexts. The case of Venezuela illustrates that elections can be used to legitimize undemocratic leadership styles like governing by decree. The Russian case is a perfect illustration of authoritarian assurance of power and electoral seismography. Analysing Venezuela and Russia, we want to show that the correlation between electoral conditions and functions and regime type is less stable than proclaimed, and that in part we can find democratic functions of elections in non-democratic circumstances and that serve non-democratic means. We argue that it is precisely these “democratic islands” of elections that help smooth transitions to autocracy.