Recent decades have seen growing concern regarding problems of electoral integrity. The most overt malpractices used by rulers include imprisoning dissidents, harassing adversaries, coercing voters, vote-rigging counts, and even blatant disregard for the popular vote. Elsewhere minor irregularities are common, exemplified by inaccurate voter registers, maladministration of polling facilities, lack of security in absentee ballots, pro-government media bias, ballot miscounts, and gerrymandering. Serious violations of human rights that undermine electoral credibility are widely condemned by domestic observers and the international community. Recent protests about integrity have mobilized in countries as diverse as Russia, Mexico, and Egypt. However, long-standing democracies are far from immune to these ills; past problems include the notorious hanging chads in Florida in 2000 and more recent accusations of voter fraud and voter suppression during the Obama-Romney contest. When problems come to light, however, is anyone held to account and are effective remedies implemented? In response to these developments, there have been growing attempts to analyze flaws in electoral integrity and transparency using systematic data from cross-national time-series, forensic analysis, field experiments, case studies, and new instruments monitoring mass and elite perceptions of malpractices. This volume collects essays from international experts who evaluate the robustness, conceptual validity, and reliability of the growing body of evidence. The essays compare alternative approaches and apply these methods to evaluate the quality of elections in several areas, including the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Election Watchdogs: Transparency, Accountability and Integrity presents new insights into the importance of diverse actors who promote electoral transparency, accountability, and ultimately the integrity of electoral governance.

This volume compares international and institutional accounts as alternative perspectives to explain why elections fail to meet international standards.

While public affairs faculty study administration and management techniques, few administrators of public affairs programs receive formal training in the nuts and bolts of academic administration. Even those faculty who come to academia after distinguished careers in managerial positions may not be ready for the very different (and difficult) environment of university administration. The Public Affairs Faculty Manual argues that public affairs as a field needs to ensure that knowledge about administration and management is applied to the running of its academic programs, and brings together major leaders in the discipline to explore key features of academic administration. Many of these leaders have served as Master of Public Administration (MPA) directors, chairs, and deans at the nation’s top public affairs programs. Crucial issues of academic administration discussed include the basics of public affairs programs, models of governance, roles of different administrative leaders, planning and budgeting for programs, navigating the accreditation process, assessing and improving student learning, ensuring social equity and cultural competency, mentoring faculty, developing curriculum, and helping provide service and applied research to community partners. Contributors have served as MPA directors, chairs, and deans at the nation’s topic public affairs programs. Themes running throughout the book’s chapters are examined, and additional resources to help manage public affairs programs are offered. This collection of essays and the strategies within it are designed to encourage faculty to assume positions of leadership in their programs and manage those programs in an effective, efficient, and fair manner. The Public Affairs Faculty Manual is required reading for new, seasoned, and aspiring academic administrators in public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management programs, as well as schools of government.

This comprehensive reference covers all aspects of politics and voting—from elections and campaigns, to major political figures and parties, to the role of media and major activist groups. As America's population changes, so do its political trends. This insightful resource captures the evolution of American politics and elections in the 21st century, explaining the identities and roles of lobbyists, activists, politicians, and voters. Featuring contributions from distinguished researchers and academics in the areas of political science, social science, and journalism, this encyclopedia explores the contemporary political landscape, offering an opportunity to compare and contrast related decisions, events, and statistical information from the recent past. Informative background essays explore all aspects of voting-related politics and policy, evolving electoral trends and the issues that account for those changes, and the impact of the ever-changing composition of America's population on polling and elections. This work incorporates the results of the 2012 elections, thus providing important insights into modern voting trends and their meaning for the future of the United States.