[TimorLesteStudies] New paper: Between Constitutional Diffusion and Local Politics: Semi-Presidentialism in Portuguese-Speaking Countries

[Bu Wilson]

Amorim Neto, Octavio and Costa Lobo, Marina, Between Constitutional  Diffusion and Local Politics: Semi-Presidentialism in  Portuguese-Speaking Countries (2010). APSA 2010 Annual Meeting Paper.  Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1644026

 Abstract:       
  This paper analyzes the systems of government adopted since the start of  the 1970s in all but one Portuguese-speaking countries (Angola, Cape  Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and  East Timor).  Taking Portugal as a reference, we pose the following questions: Is  there a lusophone semi-presidential model? How does semi-presidentialism  works in those seven countries? We claim there is a lusophone “brand”  of semi-presidentialism. To test the validity of our claim we show that  the similarities identified within lusophone countries hold up once  compared with both European and francophone sub-Saharan  semi-presidential regimes. As for the functioning of the lusophone  regimes, our data indicates that most of them display a kind of diarchic  competition – either because presidential powers, although  considerable, do not overwhelm those of the cabinet, or because although  the president’s powers are extensive, party fragmentation prevents  these from being exercised effectively. The paper also takes issue with  Siaroff and Van Cranenburgh’s contention that the concept of  semi-presidential regime is useless for the analysis of presidential  power. On the evidence provided by lusophone countries, we argue that  semi-presidentialism is a useful category. Thus, the analysis of this  group of countries also sheds light on important theoretical debates in  comparative politics.  

Dr Bu V.E. Wilson
+61  0 407 087 086




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