Contextual Determinants of Electoral System Choice - Ã bo Akademi

ecognition of opposing views in the political system and counteractconfrontational politics are required particularly in fledging democracies.Patrick Dunleavy and Helen Margetts (1995: 13-17) present two different sets ofcriteria for evaluating electoral systems, focusing on whether there is a ‘perfect’system that meets all requirements: criteria from democratic theory and statemanagement criteria. The first set includes political equality (i.e. proportionality,no malapportionment, and no ‘wasted’ votes), representation of viewpoints (i.e.minority representation and social diversity), accountability (i.e. constituencyrepresentativeness), and importance of elections (i.e. clear government alternatives,distinct options on issues and policy directions, and a full range of choices). Statemanagement criteria are governability (i.e. government durability, avoidance of‘adversary politics’, ability to enact a legislative program, and large-majority orconsensus policy-making), party system stability (i.e. protection against antisystemparties and centrifugal tendencies), and handling social conflicts (i.e.dampening ethnic conflicts and consensus-building around political institutions).It is obvious that no electoral system can fulfil all these values. Some values aremaximized by proportional systems, whereas a majoritarian or a mixed systememphasizes other values. In addition, maximization of certain values occurs at theexpense of other values. To choose the most appropriate electoral system for acountry at a particular point in time is a matter of choosing among certain values.To put it shortly, majoritarian systems, plurality ones in particular, prioritizegovernment effectiveness and accountability, whereas proportional systemspromote greater fairness to minority parties and more diversity in socialrepresentation. Advocates of mixed electoral systems argue that a mixturecombines, at least to some extent, the best of both worlds. Duverger writes that“The choice of an electoral system is … governed by concrete factors. It depends,above all else, on the function that the elected representatives must exercise. Inorder to form a consultative assembly which expresses all of a country’s nuances,PR is clearly preferable. In order to form stable and strong governments, capableof making decisions throughout the legislature’s term, plurality is the best method”(1984: 36).57