Institutions and Morality Policy in Western Democracies

Abstract

This article investigates whether different political institutions such as executives, legislatures, parties, party systems, judiciaries, decentralization, constitutionalism, and referendums across 24 Western democracies are venues for debate across five individual morality policies. Using data since 1945, the article compares three theories of morality policy-(1) Policy Type leading to different institutional venues; (2) Two Worlds of religious/secular party systems; and (3) U.S./European exceptionalism. In order, the most frequently debated issues are abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, stem cells/assisted reproductive technology (ART), and capital punishment. There is considerable variation in the institutions and country groups that debate them although fewer differences in the Two Worlds model. Abortion, euthanasia, and same sex marriage are the most convergent issues across institutions, party systems, and country groupings while capital punishment and stem cells/ART show the most diverse patterns of deliberation. The general Policy Type model of morality policy is upheld, but varies institutionally by specific issues. The Two Worlds model is of some importance, but only on three issues. There also are regional differences between the United States, Europe, and non-European democracies. Pol ıtica de instituciones y moralidad en las democracias occidentalesEste art ıculo investiga si las diferentes instituciones pol ıticas como la rama ejecutiva, la legislativa, los partidos, los sistemas de partidos, la rama judicial, la descentralizaci on, el constitucionalismo y los refer endums en 24 democracias occidentales son escenarios para el debate en 5 diferentes pol ıticas individuales de moralidad. Utilizando datos desde 1945, el art ıculo compara tres teor ıas de la pol ıtica de la moralidad-(1) Tipo de Pol ıtica que lleva a diferentes escenarios institucionales; (2) Dos Mundos de sistemas seculares/religiosos; y (3) Excepcionalismo entre EE. UU. y Europa. En orden, los temas m as frecuentemente debatidos son el aborto, el matrimonio del mismo sexo, la eutanasia, las c elulas madre/ tecnolog ıa de reproducci on asistida (ART), y la pena de muerte. Hay una variedad considerable en las instituciones y los grupos de pa ıses que debaten estos temas, aunque hay menos diferencias en el bs_bs_banner modelo de los Dos Mundos. El aborto, la eutanasia y el matrimonio del mismo sexo son los temas m as convergentes en las diferentes instituciones, sistemas de partidos y grupos de pa ıses mientras que la pena de muerte y las c elulas madre/ART muestran los patrones m as diversos de deliberaci on. El modelo de tipo de pol ıtica general se mantiene, pero var ıa institucionalmente seg un los temas espec ıficos. El modelo de Dos Mundos tiene algo de importancia, pero solo en tres temas. Tambi en hay diferencias regionales entre los Estados Unidos, Europa y las democracias no europeas.

A partial micro-foundation for the ‘two-worlds’ theory of morality policymaking: Evidence from Germany

“…While critics have pointed out important deviant cases that may require the inclusion of additional variables and a shift to a more dynamic perspective (Hurka et al, 2018), EGPL’s parsimonious approach explains much of the variation in morality policymaking in Europe (Studlar and Cagossi, 2017). What is lacking, however, is any attempt to establish the micro-foundations of the two-worlds framework in European mass publics.…”

Secular citizens, pious MPs: why German attitudes about genetic testing are much more permissive than German laws

“…This simple religious/secular distinction captures much of the variation in morality policy making in Europe (Studlar and Cagossi 2018). Prima facie, the framework also fits the case of PGD remarkably well, as both the most permissive (Belgium) and the most restrictive regimes are found in the religious world.…”

What are Morality Policies? The Politics of Values in a Post-Secular World

“…Attempts to test these hypotheses have yielded mixed results. Whereas Studlar et al (2013) found evidence for the policy typology theory, Studlar and Cagossi (2018) found considerable variation between countries and policy issues with regard to the procedural elements of morality policies.…”

“…Regardless of whether it is seen as regulatory or redistributive, many authors argue that morality policies exhibit their own type of politics. This politics is characterized by large-scale public and interest group involvement, divisive party and legislative politics, the involvement of multiple institutions, lack of executive leadership, and a strong impact of federalism on outcomes (Studlar and Burns, 2015; Studlar and Cagossi, 2018). Attempts to test these hypotheses have yielded mixed results.…”