- Claremont, California, United States
William Ascher
Claremont McKenna College, Government and Economics, Faculty Member
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I. Introduction 1. Defining the Redistributive Issue 2. Matching Tactics, Context, and Theory II. The Authoritarian Populists 3. Argentina's Machiavellian Master 4. The Debacle of Chile's General of Hope 5. The Faltering... more
I. Introduction 1. Defining the Redistributive Issue 2. Matching Tactics, Context, and Theory II. The Authoritarian Populists 3. Argentina's Machiavellian Master 4. The Debacle of Chile's General of Hope 5. The Faltering Redistributionist Impulse in Peru 6. Interpreting the Authoritarian Populists III. The Democratic Reformists 7. Gradualism in Chile 8. Reform in Peru 9. Argentina's Beleaguered Center 10. The Logic and Tactics of Reformism IV. The Radicals 11. Collapse in Chile 12. The Peruvian Military 13. Common Predicaments 14. Conclusions Notes References Index
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The feasibility of applying abstract theories and doctrines of governance and administration to the complex realities, limited resources, and political polarization of many developing countries has generated various approaches and... more
The feasibility of applying abstract theories and doctrines of governance and administration to the complex realities, limited resources, and political polarization of many developing countries has generated various approaches and strategies that are frequently at variance with the classic conceptions and aspirations of the theories. Democratic rhetoric has often been accompanied by autocratic rule. Principles based on idealized conceptions of development management have been replaced by more pragmatic approaches to cope with the messiness of bureaucratic politics, local power structures, and administrative shortcomings.
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Any policy analyst or policymaker dedicated to conflict-sensitive development would have to consider the psychology of reactions to development policies. This chapter examines how psychological mechanisms can help to explain levels of... more
Any policy analyst or policymaker dedicated to conflict-sensitive development would have to consider the psychology of reactions to development policies. This chapter examines how psychological mechanisms can help to explain levels of inter-group conflict, and how to apply these insights in designing conflict-sensitive development strategies. The mechanisms are complementary rather than competing, as no single theory can speak to all of the contextual nuances or the wide range of development policies. We explore the psychological elements—predispositions, perceptions, expectations, group identities, and other beliefs and attitudes—that mediate between development strategies and inter-group conflict. Unlike most analyses of the psychological constructs associated with violent conflict, we look specifically at the cognitive and motivational factors that are influenced by consequences of economic development initiatives: magnitudes and changes of contestable assets, income inequalities, coincidence of economic roles and economic variations with ethnic or religious differences, and so on. Even if the expected economic consequences of development initiatives do not materialize, the individual and group perceptions of the motives and possible consequences of adverse impacts such as expropriation, exclusion, or other unfair treatments have important psychological impacts on the predispositions to peace or conflict. By linking development strategies to their socioeconomic outcomes as well as to the perceptions of their motivations and potential effects, we can map them onto the specific conflict-relevant behaviors mediated by psychological mechanisms.
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This chapter focuses on overt, explicit policy initiatives to redistribute income and wealth. To be sure, almost all economic policies have some redistributive impacts. In the short run, at least, both regulation and spending policies... more
This chapter focuses on overt, explicit policy initiatives to redistribute income and wealth. To be sure, almost all economic policies have some redistributive impacts. In the short run, at least, both regulation and spending policies have winners and losers: regulations limit the behavior of some at the expense of others; budget allocations require taxation or diversion of allocations from one set of actors to another. The promotion of one sector or region entails relative neglect of others. The fundamental economic parameters, such as exchange rates, tax rates, and interest rates, strongly influence the comparative prosperity of importers versus exporters, the urban sector versus the rural sector, and so on. Therefore, the examination of “redistributive policies” as a general category would not be useful. However, a much smaller subset of economic policies is explicitly and primarily redistributive. Because of the strong potential of these overtly redistributive policies to provoke conflict, it is worth focusing separately on them.
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Humans are plagued by shortsighted thinking, preferring to put off work on complex, deep-seated, or difficult problems in favor of quick-fix solutions to immediate needs. When short-term thinking is applied to economic development,... more
Humans are plagued by shortsighted thinking, preferring to put off work on complex, deep-seated, or difficult problems in favor of quick-fix solutions to immediate needs. When short-term thinking is applied to economic development, especially in fragile nations, the results - corruption, waste, and faulty planning - are often disastrous. In "Bringing in the Future", William Ascher draws on the latest research from psychology, economics, institutional design, and legal theory to suggest strategies to overcome powerful obstacles to long-term planning in developing countries. Drawing on cases from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Ascher applies strategies such as the creation and scheduling of tangible and intangible rewards, cognitive exercises to increase the understanding of longer-term consequences, self-restraint mechanisms to protect long-term commitments and enhance credibility, and restructuring policy-making processes to permit greater influence of long-term considerations. Featuring theoretically informed research findings and sound policy examples, this volume will assist policy makers, activists, and scholars seeking to understand how the vagaries of human behavior affect international development.
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Abstract The conceptual boundaries of international mediation are defined, and the variety of available techniques is summaried. Philosophical premises are discussed, and the issue of appropriate technology is raised. Q methodology is... more
Abstract The conceptual boundaries of international mediation are defined, and the variety of available techniques is summaried. Philosophical premises are discussed, and the issue of appropriate technology is raised. Q methodology is then introduced as a method for exploring the structure of parties' perspectives, and an example of its potential applicability is provided in a simulation of the border conflicts involving Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
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Science in the aggregate has not lived up to its promise to work for the benefit of society as a whole. This problem stems from the narrow perspectives that basic and applied researchers typically take to their work. Among the barriers to... more
Science in the aggregate has not lived up to its promise to work for the benefit of society as a whole. This problem stems from the narrow perspectives that basic and applied researchers typically take to their work. Among the barriers to broadening those perspectives, the most tractable is the myth that the overriding purpose of science in human affairs
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The cradle of world’s oldest civilizations and major religions, Asia has seen and is still experiencing all variations and consequences of armed violence2—from the devastation of international and civil wars, to brutal repressions by... more
The cradle of world’s oldest civilizations and major religions, Asia has seen and is still experiencing all variations and consequences of armed violence2—from the devastation of international and civil wars, to brutal repressions by militarized regimes; from long-lasting insurgencies and separatist struggles, to explosions of religious and communal violence and terrorism. Its extreme diversity and rich dynamics of economic and political development make Asia a perfect setting to explore the multiple pathways that connect economic development to intergroup relations. This chapter sets the stage for this inquiry. It begins with a brief summary of the current status, major trends, and evolving nature of intergroup violence in the region. We also identify major challenges for conflict-sensitive development and some new threats that may undermine human security in the region. We conclude the chapter by introducing the case studies selected for this volume and their major findings. The next chapter presents an assessment of the variety and evolution of development strategies as they were designed and implemented within different countries.
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This book assesses the evolution of theories, doctrines, and practices in governance, economics, foreign assistance, civil society, and human security in developing countries since WWII, identifying progress and weaknesses. It points to... more
This book assesses the evolution of theories, doctrines, and practices in governance, economics, foreign assistance, civil society, and human security in developing countries since WWII, identifying progress and weaknesses. It points to how development approaches across these inter-connected areas can greatly enhance inclusive development.https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_facbooks/1021/thumbnail.jp