The Power of Institutions: Political Architecture and Governance (Cornell Studies in Political Economy)

MacIntyre, Andrew

ISBN 10: 0801440513 / ISBN 13: 9780801440519

Published by Cornell University Press, 2002

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 26381720983

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Power of Institutions: Political Architecture and Governance (Cornell Studies in Political Economy)
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801440513
• ISBN 13: 9780801440519
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Conventional wisdom holds that "institutions matter." Here, Andrew MacIntyre reveals exactly how they matter in the developing world. Combining an eye for current concerns in international politics with a deep knowledge of Southeast Asia, MacIntyre explores the impact of institutions on effective governance. He examines the "national political architecture"―the complex of rules that determine how leadership of a state is constituted and how state authority is exercised. The Power of Institutions sets out an intriguing conundrum: one well-established body of literature decries the evils of highly centralized political systems, while an equally vigorous school of thought outlines the dangers of political fragmentation. MacIntyre presents the problems associated with institutional extremes, common in developing countries, as the "power concentration paradox." Either extreme is likely to be associated with distinctive governance problems. MacIntyre illustrates his wider arguments by focusing on Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. He shows how their diverse political architectures influenced their responses to the Asian economic crisis and played into pressures for political reform. The Power of Institutions makes clear why the configuration of political institutions is one of the most pressing challenges in many parts of the developing world today.

About the Author

Andrew MacIntyre is Professor of Political Science at the Graduate School at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Business and Politics in Indonesia and editor of Business and Government in Industrializing Asia, the latter from Cornell.