Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions Stephan Kyburz

Rules in Perspective is a new segment on the Rules of the Game channel. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes.

In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 38 on Political Institutions of Kuwait with Luai Allarakia.

My three takeaways:


Re-read the constitution
Procedural rules matter too
Political parties are important

Listen to episode 38 and find the show notes here.

Find a full transcript here.

Find more information on the role of political parties in this paper on Moderated Parliamentarism.

Related Episodes:

Parliamentarism vs. Presidentialism with Tiago Santos (Ep. 11)


Show notes
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Youtube

Beyond Presidentialism and parliamentarism with Steffen Ganghof (Ep. 16)


Show notes
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Youtube

Moderated Parliamentarism with Tarunabh Khaitan (Ep. 29)


Show notes
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

It would be great to hear your opinion and feedback on this new format. If you want to send me an email, you can reach me at rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame

With Luai Allarakia I discuss Kuwait’s political system and institutions. He lays out the most important developments since its constitution was written in 1962, and how Kuwait – a country of 4.3 million people –  tries to manage its political trajectory between presidentialism and parliamentarism. It is following its own path, that is led by a hereditary monarch, the emir of Kuwait. While a lot of power is concentrated in the emir, who can appoint the prime minister, the National Assembly of Kuwait, or KNA in short, is elected by the people. Elections are a national sport in Kuwait, says Luai.

He shares with us many institutional features and rules that may seem very specific to Kuwait, but are interesting to compare to other political systems. In the end, you realize that the system is based on many different written and unwritten rules and norms – like any political system.

So in this conversation we really take the time to go into some detail of Kuwait’s institutions and I think it’s really worth it to talk about the specificities that are partly similar and partly different from a well-established democracy.

Luai Allarakia is Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond in the US. He got his PhD in Political Science and Government from the University of Houston, where he wrote his thesis on the Dynamics of Legislatures in Monarchical Regimes, exemplified by Kuwait’s National Assembly (KNA). His research specializes in Kuwait’s legislature, the Saudi Shura Council, and Gulf Arab affairs. He also regularly comments on political developments in the Gulf states. You can follow him on Twitter and Linkedin and link to his profiles in the show notes.

Find a full transcript and links to all material discussed in the show notes.

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:34 Personal questions / 06:28 Main discussion / 54:20 Recommendations by Luai Allarakia.

Luai Allarakia's contributions at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

Follow Luai Allarakia on Twitter and Linkedin.

Please send feedback to rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com.

Many thanks to Ana Margarida Santos who edited the episode.

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Luai Allarakia.

Music credits: To Be A Ball Of Light by Late Night Feeler and Fantasy Classical Themes by TheoTe.

Rules in Perspective is a new segment on Rules of  the Game – discussing democratic institutions. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes.

In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 37 on Advancing Proportional Representation in Canada with Réal Lavergne.

My three takeaways:


Broken promises
Lost referendums
Citizens’ assemblies as a reform strategy

Listen to episode 37 and find the show notes here.

Find more information about Fair Vote Canada.

Related Episodes:

The Dream of a Truly American Democracy (Ep.1)


Show notes
Youtube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

Proportional Representation in America? with Jack Santucci (Ep. 12)


Show notes
Youtube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

New Zealand's Electoral Reform with Jack Nagel (Ep. 30)


Show notes
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

It would be great to hear your opinion and feedback on this new  format. If you want to send me an email, you can reach me at  rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and  you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame

The story of proportional representation in Canada is one of great hopes, changes in reform strategies, but also – unfortunately – many broken promises. So the country is still stuck with the outdated first-past-the-post electoral system at all levels of government.

With Réal Lavergne I discuss the efforts of Fair Vote Canada to push for electoral reform. He shares the frustrations and problems that come with the first-past-the-post electoral system and how Fair Vote Canada tries to bring change to the balance of power. While most people seem to be aware of the defects of elections in Canada, to introduce proportional representation through electoral reform is extremely difficult.

Réal Lavergne was President of Fair Vote Canada from 2016 to 2021 and is well versed with the experiences of advocating for proportional representation in Canada. Réal is an economist by training and got his PhD in Political Economy from the University of Toronto. Before starting to work as a volunteer for Fair Vote Canada, he spent many years in International Development.

Find a full transcript and links to all material discussed in the show notes.

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:20 Personal questions / 07:40 Main discussion / 35:20 Recommendations by Réal Lavergne.

Find out more about Réal Lavergne at Fair Vote Canada.

Find out more Fair Vote Canada.

Follow Réal Lavergne on LinkedIn.

Please send feedback to rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com.

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Réal Lavergne.

Music credits: To Be A Ball Of Light by Late Night Feeler and Fantasy Classical Themes by TheoTe.

Rules in Perspective is a new segment on Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes.

In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 36 on Current Developments of Direct Democracy in Germany with Jan Renner. 

My three takeaways:


On the people's initiative in Bavaria
On citizens' assemblies and direct democracy
On the history of direct democracy in Germany

Listen to episode 36 and find the show notes here: https://rulesofthegame.blog/current-developments-of-direct-democracy-in-germany/

Referenced paper by Andreas Rohner (2011): https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/94811/1/C2D_WP38.pdf

Mehr Demokratie (More Democracy) Germany: https://www.mehr-demokratie.de/english

It would be great to hear your opinion and feedback on this new format. If you want to send me an email, you can reach me at rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame

Related Episodes:

Basic Principles of Direct Democracy with Stefan Schlegel (Ep. #5)

Website: https://rulesofthegame.blog/basic-principles-of-direct-democracy/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1sFM0MpgIfHDdsJ1P2Gca3?si=vdZJSOePSFGCaIXnLH2zcw

Youtube: https://youtu.be/cFKoTCRzw80



Directer Democracy with Roslyn Fuller (Ep. #13)

Website: https://rulesofthegame.blog/directer-democracy/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qNodiEb0v4bTcKH7UCEix?si=8D_e9_0cRj6M-DpO2VhMTg

Youtube: https://youtu.be/sR_kOOB4N6U



Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies with Ian O'Flynn (Ep. #22)

Website: https://rulesofthegame.blog/deliberative-democracy-and-citizens-assemblies/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hrBuTGWFz5VNEspqLm7kj?si=DDX7EamKR6-e6eWHVw9dvQ



Let the People Rule with John Matsusaka (Ep. #31)

Website: https://rulesofthegame.blog/let-the-people-rule/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/522DYytyyZT79XGj0LMydf?si=yjFdxHtsRY2D_9Bd2Ui8Kw

With Jan Renner I discuss current developments of direct democracy in Germany, and especially in Bavaria, his home state. Bavaria is the most advanced German federal state when it comes to direct democracy. Jan explains the specific direct democratic tools that are available and how Mehr Demokratie, the organization he works for, tries to change the rules of direct democracy to make citizen participation and decision making easier and better. He shares with us the strategies they pursue and obstacles they face.

As Germany is indeed a vibrant direct democracy at the communal and regional level, we talk about developments of direct democracy in the various states. Yet, Germany is still the only EU country that has not yet seen a nationwide referendum. We dig into the historical reasons for this fact and discuss the options for citizen participation, and pushbacks against direct democracy at the federal level.

Jan Renner is the Executive Director of Mehr Demokratie (More Democracy) in Bavaria. What I love about his story is how he became a young activist for direct democracy when he joined protest movements that made him more aware of what is wrong with the political system and so he joined the organization for more democracy and climbed its ranks. Jan studied Political Science, Sociology and History in Augsburg and Oslo.

Show notes with a full transcript and links to all material discussed: https://rulesofthegame.blog/current-developments-of-direct-democracy-in-germany/

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:20 Personal questions / 09:27 Main  discussion / 48:14 Recommendations by Jan Renner.

Find out more about Jan Renner here: https://bayern.mehr-demokratie.de/ueber-uns/mitarbeiter-innen

Find out more about Mehr Demokratie Germany (More Democracy): https://www.mehr-demokratie.de/

Please send feedback to stephan.kyburz@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame

Many thanks to Ana Margarida Santos who edited the episode.

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Jan Renner.

Music credits: To Be A Ball Of Light by Late Night Feeler and Fantasy Classical Themes by TheoTe.