This paper examines whether participation in the electoral process has become easier or more difficult for new political parties. We identify barriers that might facilitate or discourage the participation of new parties in elections. This involves both the rules of ballot access, as well as media access and campaign funding. Then, we assemble empirical evidence on the changes in these barriers in advanced industrial democracies. The paper also considers whether any observed institutional changes have had demonstrable impact on the number of new and small parties in these electoral systems

Laws banning criminal offenders from voting have existed in the United States for more than two centuries. While a legacy of felon exclusion remains in the United States, the proportion of criminal offenders formally excluded from voting has decreased over time. Though many ex-offenders are eligible to vote, voter turnout amongst ex-felony offenders is exceptionally low. Existing scholarship has recognized criminal convictions and subsequent incarceration, as factors that explain the dismal levels of voter turnout demonstrated by ex-criminal offenders. I this dissertation, I alternatively argue that misinformation surrounding offender voting rights, and stigma associated with the "convicted felon" label negatively influence levels of political involvement amongst former felons. I conclude by arguing in favor of civic reeducation programs that inform ex-offenders of their rights and that may assist them reintegrate back into society.

Mixed research methods were used to gather and analyze data in this dissertation. Research methods used include in-depth interviews, quasi-experimental methods, a survey and an experiment. This methodological approach was used to evaluate the extent of misinformation amongst ex-felons regarding their voting rights, and to estimate the causal effect of educating ex-offenders of their voting rights on levels of interest in government and civic engagement. I find that nearly half of eligible to vote, ex-felony offenders wrongly believe that they are disenfranchised. Further, I find that informing ex-felons of their voting rights increases personal knowledge of voting rights, desire to participate in upcoming elections and overall interest in politics and public affairs. This dissertation makes a theoretical contribution to existing literature on the topic of felon disenfranchisement and is essential reading for policy makers, criminal justice professionals and organizations interested in issues related to prisoner reentry.

State governance based on a clan system lacks definition in the early days of the twenty-first century. This paper seeks to explore the structures and functions of the clan system in the Republic of Azerbaijan. This requires examination of the formal and informal institutions using a cross-disciplinary mixed methods approach to capture the complexities present. Particular emphasis focuses on the local level clan ties to the Milli Məjlis (National Assembly) as expression of citizens' voice in the political decision-making process. Field interviews reveal a bottom-up system with horizontal rather than vertical structures resulting in a dynamic parochial political culture.

What are the obstacles in the establishment of rule of law in democratizing countries? I argue that political corruption has a causal negative effect on the establishment of rule of law. I find that political and judicial corruption makes the implementation and the enforcement of the laws practically impossible. This mixed methods dissertation consists of a two-case comparative study of two new democracies, Czech Republic and Romania, with different levels of corruption and rule of law, based on field work and interviews with over 50 elites; and several cross national tests in all new democracies around the world. This dissertation makes both a theoretical contribution to the study of establishment of rule of law, by hypothesizing the negative impact of corruption on this process, and an empirical contribution by thoroughly testing the hypothesis within cases and cross-nationally.