Contextual Determinants of Electoral System Choice - Ã bo Akademi

3.2.3.2 Actor-Related ProblemsA study of electoral system choice cannot completely ignore the role of politicalactors. The sociopolitical, historical and geographical settings constitute aframework for choosing an electoral system but the choice itself is implemented bypolitical actors. Irrespective of why a given electoral system is adopted, thedecision is taken by politicians who pursue their individual interests above else.Their interests may be centered on furthering their political careers, or they may befocused on voters of their own districts alternatively the country as a whole.Nevertheless, each participant in the process of choosing an electoral systempursues specific policy goals. Hence, the final choice reflects the interests ofindividual political actors and negotiated settlements of political conflicts over theinstitutional design (Mozaffar 1998: 81).The self-interest of politicians is, however, difficult to define. It cannot be definedsolely as winning the next election, since this goal may be against long-terminterests. One underlying interest of every responsible politician in democracies ispreservation of stability, which may conflict with preferences based on individualsuccess. Tradition and familiar examples from abroad also affect the mind ofdecision-makers. Some conclusions on the likely preferences of political actorscan, nonetheless, be drawn. The preferences of self-interested politicians dependon their roles, which societal interests their parties represent, and whether theirparties are rising or declining relative to others. Mozaffar asserts that politiciansand parties prefer electoral rules that they think will lead to winning elections, or atleast maximizing their legislative representation (1998: 84). Members of smallparties, declining parties and parties with an uncertain future most likely preferproportional representation. Large parties and established parties with a firm votersupport, on the other hand, benefit from a majoritarian system that over-representsthe largest parties.An electoral system choice may, thus, be rational from two different perspectives.The choice may be rational with regard to, e.g. securing representation of severalethnic minorities by using a proportional system. The choice may also be rationalregarding the preferences of political actors; i.e. each politician prefers electoralrules that will most likely guarantee success for himself and/or his party. Aresponsible political leader in a plural society may prefer list PR with large districts88