The Spirit of the Laws

Mediation, Military, and Money: The Promises and Pitfalls of Outside Interventions to End Armed Conflicts

“…19 Finally, between-group or between-region trade and business promotion can be part of economic policies that increase the opportunity costs of conflict. The traditional liberal argument of international trade driving down the scope for interstate wars (see De Montesquieu, 1989;Angell, 2010;Gartzke, 2007) can also apply to domestic business between rival factions. As found in the game-theoretic model of Rohner et al (2013), greater inter-group economic interdependence increases the opportunity cost of foregone business in the case of conflict.…”

The Global State of Democracy Indices Methodology: Conceptualization and Measurement Framework, Version 7 (2023)

“…Beyond regular elections, the exercise of political power needs to be subject to defined limits and continuous scrutiny and people should be able to live a secure life without the risk of political violence (Beetham 1999: 155, 163-65;Beetham et al 2008: 24). If there is not integrity in the public administration and the judiciary is not independent, executive power is more prone to be abused for private gain and to bias in political decision-making and implementation (Holmes 1997;Lauth 2004;Merkel 2004;Montesquieu 1989Montesquieu [1748; O 'Donnell 2007'Donnell , 2010Vile 1998). Moreover, the government and public administration more generally ought to implement official public policies in an impartial and predictable manner (Beetham 1999: 165;Beetham et al 2008: 75-76).…”