Michael Gallagher / Paul Mitchell

The Politics of Electoral Systems

Herausgeber: Gallagher, Michael; Mitchell, Paul

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Successive sections analyse: the institutional context; how each electoral system was chosen historically; how the current electoral system operates (the rules, mechanics, and ballot structure); and the political consequences of the current system (the impact on the party system, the internal life of parties, and the impact on parliament and government formation). Each country chapter then contains a final section which focuses on the politicization of electoral institutions. In recent years many countries have changed their electoral systems, either entirely or in part so there is a strong focus on the processes of electoral reform, both historically and prospectively. The book concentrates on the real world 'politics', as well as the 'political science' of electoral systems. The book will be of interest to those concerned with the practical political business of electoral reform. The book contains a wealth of evidence about the performance of various kinds of proportional representation and of non-PR systems. This will be invaluable for anyone interested in the question: 'What would be the best electoral system for my country?'

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This ground-breaking book is the first in over 20 years to examine the operation of electoral systems in 22 countries. This thoroughly comparative volume containing contributions from world-class experts seeks to place often highly technical debates about electoral systems in their real national contexts. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the political process.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Sydney University Press
• Seitenzahl: 688
• Erscheinungstermin: 23. Februar 2006
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 242mm x 164mm x 45mm
• Gewicht: 1167g
• ISBN-13: 9780199257560
• ISBN-10: 0199257566
• Artikelnr.: 21255308

Autorenporträt

Michael Gallagher, Associate Professor of Political Science, Trinity College, University of Dublin and Paul Mitchell, Lecturer in Government, London School of Economics and Political Science

Inhaltsangabe

* Foreword
* Part 1: Introduction: Electoral Systems and Electoral Systems
Research
* 1: Michael Gallagher and Paul Mitchell: Introduction to Electoral
Systems
* 2: Matthew Søberg Shugart: Comparative Electoral Systems Research:
The Maturation of a Field and New Challenges Ahead
* 3: Richard S. Katz: Why are There so many (or so few) Electoral
Reforms?
* Part 2: Single-Member Constituency Systems
* 4: David M. Farrell and Ian McAllister: Australia: The Alternative
vote in a Compliant Political Culture
* 5: Louis Massicotte: Canada: Sticking to First-past-the-Post, for the
Time Being
* 6: Robert Elgie: France: Stacking the Deck
* 7: Anthony Heath, Siana Glouharova, and Oliver Heath: India:
Two-Party Contests Within a Multi-Party System
* 8: Paul Mitchell: United Kingdom: Plurality Rule Under Siege
* 9: Shaun Bowler, Todd Donovan, and Jennifer Van Heerde: United States
of America: Perpetual Campaigning in the Absence of Competition
* Part 3: Mixed Systems
* 10: Thomas Saalfeld: Germany: Stability and Strategy in a
Mixed-Member Proportional System
* 11: Kenneth Benoit: Hungary: Holding Back the Tiers
* 12: Roberto D'Alimonte: Italy: A Case of Fragmented Bipolarism
* 13: Steven R. Reed: Japan: Haltingly Toward a Two-Party System
* 14: Jack Vowles: New Zealand: The Consolidation of Reform?
* 15: Stephen White: Russia: The Authoritarian Adaptation of an
Electoral System
* Part 4: Closed List Systems
* 16: Gideon Rahat and Reuven Y. Hazan: Israel: The Politics of Extreme
Proportionality
* 17: Amanda Gouws and Paul Mitchell: South Africa: One Party Dominance
Despite Perfect Proportionality
* 18: Jonathan Hopkin: Spain: Proportional Representation with
Majoritarian Outcomes
* Part 5: Preferential List Systems and PR-STV
* 19: Wolfgang C. Müller: Austria: A Complex Electoral System with
Subtle Effects
* 20: Lieven De Winter: Belgium: Empowering Voters or Party Elites?
* 21: Peter Siavelis: Chile: The Unexpected (and Expected) Consequences
of Electoral Engineering
* 22: Jørgen Elklit: Denmark: Simplicity Embedded in Complexity (or Is
it the Other Way Round?)
* 23: Tapio Raunio: Finland: One Hundred Years of Quietude
* 24: Rudy B. Andeweg: The Netherlands: The Sanctity of Proportionality
* 25: Michael Gallagher: Ireland: The Discreet Charm of PR-STV
* Part 6: Conclusion
* 26: Michael Gallagher: Conclusion
* Appendix A - The Mechanics of Electoral Systems
* Appendix B - Indices of Fragmentation and Disproportionality
* Appendix C: Effective Threshold and Effective District Magnitude
* Appendix D: Values of Indices for 22 Countries at Most Recent
Election
* Appendix E: Web Sites Related to Elections, Election Results, and
Electoral Systems