Danish Politics. Carsten Jensen. Department of Political Science University of Aarhus. Aspects of Denmark: Department of Political Science,

Transcription

1 Aspects of Denmark: Danish Politics Carsten Jensen Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus Slide 1

2 Topics 1. The basics: The Danish constitution Democracy in Denmark 2. The political parties: Old parties New(er) parties The current political situation 3. The welfare state: Types of welfare states The Danish welfare state 4. Denmark and Europe: Referendums and exceptions Love/Hate? 5. Current topics: Foreigners/immigration The Mohammed cartoon affair Slide 2

3 The Basics: The constitution Types of democratic regimes: Presidentialism First past the post/winner takes all USA Proportional representaion Latin America Parliamentarism UK Continental Europe including DK Slide 3

4 The Basics: The constitution The Danish constitution: First written constitution in 1849 Present constitution from 1953 Constitutional monarchy and representative democracy Parliamentary democracy Proportional representation The constitution is neither a full nor an accurate description of political life read between the lines Slide 4

5 The basics: Few formal veto points in Denmark Veto points: Federalism (e.g., Germany, US) A strong judiciary (e.g., US) Bicamerialism (e.g., US) Presidentialism (e.g., France, US) Use of popular referenda (e.g., Switzerland) Super-majorities (e.g., US) Slide 5

6 The Basics: Channels of influence Two (/three?) main channels of influence Government Central administration Parliament The media Interest organisations Political Parties Citizens Slide 6

7 The Basics: Corporatism and consensual democracy Democratic corporatism Privileged and institutionalized involvement of interest organizations in the legislative and administrative processes Initiative Preparation Implementation Through Formal: Commissions, committees, consultations, submissions, hearings, etc. Informal consensual democracy Slide 7

8 The Basics: Political culture Political culture High level of political interest Comparatively high level of political knowledge High turnout in elections around 85 % (except for EP) High level of turnout in referenda High level of satisfaction with the working of democracy Slide 8

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10 2. The political parties: The old parties Two cleavages, four parties Status quo Country side Venstre = Liberals Cities Konservtive = Conservatives Reformdemanding Radikale Venstre = Social liberals Socialdemokraterne = Social Democrats Slide 10

11 1956/9: Department of Political Science University of Aarhus The political parties: The new(er) parties Communist party splinter Socialist People s Party 1968: New left parties Unity List Red/Green alliance New right party: Progress Party Danish People s Party 2007: New Alliance: Anti-Danish People s Party, centre-right 2009: Borgerligt centrum: Bourgeois Centre, socially responsible, less Big Brother Slide 11

12 The political Department of Political Science University of Aarhus parties: The current situation Danish People's Part Liberals Conservatives 50 Socialdemocrats Socialist People's P Radical Liberals Economic Politics Slide 12

13 The political parties: The current 30 situation % Unity List Soc PP Soc Dem Soc Lib Lib Alli Cons Lib Danish PP Slide 13

14 3. The welfare state Slide 14

15 The liberal regime Welfare programs: Low levels of benefits; means-testing; often citizenship-based Labor market: High levels of earnings inequality; low levels of employment protection; many low paid service jobs Core members: Austrailia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, UK and US Slide 15

16 The conservative regime Welfare programs: High levels of benefits; contributionbased; familiaristic orientation Labor markets: Moderate levels of earnings inequality; high levels of employment protection; low levels of female labor force participation; insider-outsider logic Core members: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland Slide 16

17 The social democratic regime Welfare programs: High levels of benefits; citizenshipbased; universal access; family services Labor markets: Low levels of earnings inequality; moderate levels of employment protection; many public sector service jobs; high levels of female labor force participation Core members: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden Slide 17

18 The histioric causes of welfare regimes Strong labor movements the social democratic regime Weak labor movements the liberal regime Strong labor movements and a strong Catholic culture the conservative regime Slide 18

19 The history of the Danish welfare state First reforms introduced in the 1890s by the liberals Major expansion from the 1930s and especially the 1960s Social Democrats the leading party, but the Social Liberals and in some instances the Liberals and Cconservatives important too Class compromise consensus on basic goals of the welfare state Slide 19

20 Department of Political Science The University of Aarhus welfare state Pay levels: Average: 30,000 kr./mo. Super market clerk: 16,000 kr./mo. Unskilled nursing home assistant: 18,500 kr./mo. School teacher 25,000 kr./mo. + pension Skilled worker: up to 30,000 kr./mo. Full professor: 50,000 kr./mo. + pension: 7,800 kr./mo. Business lawyer: 60,000 kr./mo. Slide 20

21 Department of Political Science University of Aarhus The welfare state Transfers: Basic coverage in case of unemployment: 9,000 kr./mo. Unemployment insurance up to 4 years: max. 14,800 kr./mo. Maternity/paternity leave up to 1 year: max. 14,800 kr./mo (or full pay). Early retirement (62 years): 13,500 kr./mo. Old age pension (65 years): 10,000 kr./mo. + private insurance and/or various benefits Disablement pension: 14,800 kr./mo. Child allowance: Up to 1,150 kr./mo./child Student support (SU): 4,800 kr./mo. + loan Slide 21

22 Free services The welfare state Health care everything except dentistry and medication (up to a certain amount) Education from kindergarten class to PhD Public libraries Care for the elderly: Nursing homes, cleaning and help in own home (Heavily) Subsidized: Daycare for children aged ½ - 6 years After school hours activities Public transportation Museums and cultural institutions Slide 22

23 The price tag: The welfare state Income taxes: Progressive taxation rising from about 40% to 62% according to income level (income > kr)(first 40,000 kr./yr. are not taxed) (From January 2010 max. marginal tax is 56% (incomes> kr.)) VAT: 25% on everything you buy Property taxes Petrol taxes Car taxes: 180% on new cars Slide 23

24 Reforms in Danish welfare Some basic feautures: PR electoral system and few veto points moderately strong multi-party governments Popular support for welfare programs high Moderate fiscal pressure Many negotiated reforms Slide 24

25 Reforms in Danish welfare Big labor market reforms in the 1990s The early retirement scheme curtailed in 1998 and 2006 Reforms mostly introduced by the Social Democrats with support of the other old parties Slide 25

26 4. Denmark and Europe From 1972 to the present: A history of referendums and exceptions Referendums mandatory when surrendering sovereignty to super-national bodies such as the EU Can also be held merely as a way for politicians to listen to the people Now: A norm in EU matters expected by the people Slide 26

27 Denmark and Europe The six referendums: Year Topic Turnout % yes 1972 EC membership 90,1 63, Single European Act 75,4 56, Maastricht Treaty 83,1 49, Edinburgh Agreement 86,5 59, Amsterdam Treaty 76,2 55, Single Currency 87,6 46,8 Slide 27

28 Denmark and Europe Masstrict NO Edinburgh Agreement: The four exceptions/opt outs: No participation in the Euro No participation in common defence No participation in police and judicial affairs No participation in union citizenship Slide 28

29 Denmark and Europe Love/Hate? Strong support for the EU on a daily basis Strong support for enlargement Strong opposition to deepening of cooperation Slide 29

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33 4. Current topics: Foreigners/immigration The hottest political issue over the past 10 years Decided the 2001 election At the core of a major cleavage in modern Danish politics Why: Racists? Worse than others? Party competition? Slide 33

34 Current topics: Foreigners/immigration Not much support for outright racism: Some races are less intelligent than others Agree: 18% Disagree: 74% Slide 34

35 Current topics: Department of Political Science University of Aarhus Foreigners/immigration Don t want neighbours of different race % Turkey Poland Italy Greece Belgium Finland Spain CzechR UK France USA Austria Denmark Germany Holland Canada Sweden Slide

36 Current topics: Foreigners/immigration The past 10 years: Immigration issue on the political agenda Parties have taken positons on it politicised issue Thus, voters take it into account when voting Policies have been changed Slide 36

37 Current topics: Foreigners/immigration Main points of changes: 24-year rule Start help: 5,600 kr./mo. Tests to obtain citizenship Not much demand for further changes Slide 37

38 Current issues: The Mohammed cartoon affair Introduction: Drawings for childrens book Invitation to cartoonists Relatively quiet for months Imams on tour in the Middle East Riots, boycotts, and embassy burnings in the Middle East February 2008: Death threats towards one of the cartoonists reprint in papers new riots Now: Sales are close to normal again, and people are relaxing, but the debate continues Slide 38

39 Current issues: The Mohammed The debate: cartoon affair The imams: It is against islam to show pictures of Mohammed - blasphemy Danish government: Freedom of expression as long as you don t lie or derogate individuals or groups of people. Public debate has wide limits Slide 39