Suchergebnisse

Analyzes results for national British political parties in the English regions.

BECAUSE OF VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, LARGE-SCALE EVACUATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED IN MONTSERRAT IN 1995-96 AND REMAINED IN EFFECT INDEFINITELY. DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY CAUSED BY THE VOLCANIC ACTIVITY ON THE SMALL ISLAND, THE BRITISH GOVERNOR DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO TEST PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DESIRABILITY OF HOLDING GENERAL ELECTIONS, WHICH THE CONSTITUTION MANDATED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1996 AND JANUARY 1997. THE QUESTION OF WHEN TO HOLD THE ELECTIONS PROVED TO BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

THE EXPERIENCES OF FRANCE'S ELECTED REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS OFFER BOTH COMFORT AND WARNINGS TO ENGLISH REFORMERS. THAT THE CENTRALIZED, UNITARY FRENCH STATE CAN ESTABLISH REGIONS AS POPULARLY LEGITIMATE AND FULLY-FUNCTIONING GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME IS AN OPTIMISTIC SIGN. HOWEVER, IN GENERAL, THE FRENCH REGIONS HAVE BEEN CONSTRAINED BY POOR PERFORMANCE, WEAK LEADERSHIP, THE BURGEONING DEPARTMENTAL SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION, AND THE NEWLY CONSOLIDATED POWER OF THE REGIONAL STATE. THE MAIN LESSONS FOR GREAT BRITAIN ARE THE NEED TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE POWERS AT THE OUTSET, THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF HALF-WAY HOUSES TO DIRECT ELECTIONS, THE DIFFICULTIES OF USING EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES, AND THE DANGERS OF COMPETITION BETWEEN TIERS OF GOVERNMENTS FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROLE.