representation and electoral systems - American Political Science ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

18 complexity of most electoral systems in practice, but the choice is analytically and practically sound. Analytically, it facilitates the construction of a parsimonious predictive model and helps to clarify the logic, dynamics and outcomes of electoral systems, not a mean feat because this is invaluable information for constructing predictive models of more complex electoral systems, such as, for example, mixed parallel and compensatory systems as well as other institutional permutations. Practically, it helps to identify for time-constrained practitioners the core institutional components of electoral systems and clarify their consequences for party systems and cabinet duration. An innovative variable that underscores the predictive power of the simple electoral systems model is vintage Taagepera. Inspired by Colomer’s “micro-mega” rule – “the small prefer the large, and the large prefer the small,” (Colomer 2004: 3) – the seat product of simple electoral systems (M F S) is obtained by multiplying the assembly size (S) by the number of seats in the average district (or the mean district magnitude M), with M modulated by the seat allocation “formula exponent” (F). The predictive power of the seat product rests on the fact that it is a combined summary expression of the three components of simple electoral systems, assembly size, district magnitude and electoral formula. It represents the “comprehensive outcome of (Taagepera) trying to make sense of electoral systems for over 40 years” (p. 92). Simple electoral systems predict average outcomes. This may not be entirely satisfactory if one is looking for predictive precision, but it is consistent with the requirements of conceptual parsimony and analytical rigor that facilitate the development of predictive models. Moreover, the predictions derived from the simple electoral system model conform, on average, to observed global patterns. Taagepera’s deductive approach thus holds up well against empirical evidence. Seats and Votes is one the most widely cited books and has inspired many of the best works in comparative electoral systems research. But its non-statistical approach has not been widely emulated in the field. Predicting Party Sizes may very well suffer the same paradoxical fate. There is no small irony in this. Within its narrowly defined focus on simple electoral systems, it has achieved the scientific ideals of cumulative theory building and prediction that motivated the behavioral revolution in political science over fifty years ago. But this accomplishment has come at a time when the emphasis in political science has shifted toward more context-sensitive theorizing. But even here, Predicting Party Sizes contains important insights. The unfinished Duvergerian agenda noted by Taagepera involves, among other things, clarifying the microfoundations of simple electoral systems, which requires tackling the thorniest of contextual variables, political culture and its relationship to the psychological effects of electoral systems and the resulting strategic calculations of political actors. And if Taagepera’s disciplined approach motivates and informs theory-building in this endeavor, then Predicting Party Sizes could share another fate with Seats and Votes. In 1999, Seats and Votes won the George H. Hallett award (Disclosure: I chaired the award committee). It should not a be surprise if Predicting Party Sizes is a strong contender for the same award a decade from now
19 Colomer, Josep. 2004. “The Strategy and History of Electoral Systems Choice,” pp. 3-78. In Josep Colomer (eds). Handbook of Electoral Systems Choice. New York: Palgrave. Taagepera, Rein and Matthew S. Shugart (1989). Seats and Votes: The Effects and Determinants of Electoral Systems. New Have: Yale University Press. Shaheen Mozaffar Bridgewater State College BIBLIOGRAPHY ON REPRESENTATION AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS September 1007-March 2008 Erik S. Herron University of Kansas E-Mail: eherron@ku.edu Books (English Language) E-Voting and Identity First FIDIS International Conference, Vote-ID 2007, Bochum, Germany, October 4- 5, 2007, Revised Selected Papers. 2008. New York: Springer. Arao, Danilo A., Bobby M. Tuazon, Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy, and Center for People Empowerment in Governance. 2007. Oligarchic Politics: Elections and the Party-List System in the Philippines. Diliman, Quezon City: CenPEG Books. Arnautovi c, Suad. 2007. Ten Years of Democratic Chaos: Electoral Processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 2006. Sarajevo: Promocult. Benham, Liza A. 2008. From Winning Elections to Influencing Policy: The Electoral-Policy Link for Minority Voters. New York: LFB Scholarly Pub. Bickerstaff, Steve. 2007. Lines in the Sand: Congressional Redistricting in Texas and the Downfall of Tom DeLay. Austin: University of Texas Press. Blais, André. 2008. To Keep or to Change First Past the Post? The Politics of Electoral Reform. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Blum, Edward. 2007. The Unintended Consequences of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Washington: AEI Press. Boussahba-Bravard, Myriam. 2007. Suffrage Outside Suffragism: Women's Vote in Britain, 1880-1914. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Bowler, Shaun and Amihai Glazer. 2008. Direct Democracy's Impact on American Political Institutions. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Brady, David W. and Mathew D. McCubbins. 2007. Party, Process, and Political Change in Congress: Further New Perspectives on the History of Congress. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Brinkerhoff, Derick W. 2007. Governance in Post-Conflict Societies: Rebuilding Fragile States. New York: Routledge. Brug, Wouter v. d., C. v. d. Eijk, and Mark N. Franklin. 2007. The Economy and the Vote: Economic Conditions and Elections in Fifteen Countries. New York: Cambridge University Press. Brunell, Thomas L. 2008. Redistricting and Representation: Why Competitive Elections Are Bad for America. New York: Routledge. Buell, Emmett H. and Lee Sigelman. 2008. Attack Politics: Negativity in Presidential Campaigns since 1960. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. Carlson, Matthew. 2007. Money Politics in Japan: New Rules, Old Practices. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Childs, Sarah. 2008. Women and British Party Politics: Descriptive, Substantive and Symbolic Representation. New York: Routledge.
Page 1 and 2: REPRESENTATION AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Page 3 and 4: Panel 4: Co-sponsored with Comparat
Page 5 and 6: 5 Lee Ann Banaszak (Penn State) and
Page 7 and 8: SECTION TREASURER REPORT 7 Professo
Page 9 and 10: 9 from among members of the Executi
Page 11 and 12: 11 Other Political Party Autonomy D
Page 13 and 14: 13 the funding before the election
Page 15 and 16: 15 commissioning of an official por
Page 17: 17 Part I of the book on “Rules a
Page 21 and 22: 21 Democracies. New York: New York
Page 23 and 24: 23 Politics 30(4):711-32. Bardi, Lu
Page 25 and 26: 25 Social Cleavages in Western Euro
Page 27 and 28: 27 Kasuya, Yuko and Johannes Moeniu
Page 29 and 30: 29 June 2006." Electoral Studies 27
Page 31: 31 Nepal. 2007. Samvidhanasabha Nir

representation and electoral systems - American Political Science ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?