- The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Terminology and Basic Rules of Electoral Systems
- Dimensions of Variation in Electoral Systems
- Electoral System Effects on Party Systems
- Party System Effects on Electoral Systems
- Electoral System Design in New Democracies
- Electoral System Change
- Social Diversity, Electoral Systems, and the Party System
- Electoral Systems and Ethnic Minority Representation
- Electoral Systems and Women’s Representation
- Electoral Systems and Voter Turnout
- Electoral Systems and Citizen-Elite Ideological Congruence
- Electoral Systems and Issue Polarization
- Portfolio-Maximizing Strategic Voting in Parliamentary Elections
- Presidential and Legislative Elections
- Electoral Systems and Legislative Organization
- Electoral Systems and Roles in the Legislative Arena
- Electoral Systems and Constituency Service
- Direct Democracy and Referendums
- Electoral Systems in Authoritarian States
- Election Data and Levels of Analysis
- Experimental Research Design in the Study of Electoral Systems
- Reconciling Approaches in the Study of Mixed-Member Electoral Systems
- Election Administration
- Electoral Systems and Electoral Integrity
- Electoral Systems and Redistricting
- Electoral Systems and Campaign Finance
- Electoral Systems in Context: The Netherlands
- Electoral Systems in Context: Israel
- Electoral Systems in Context: Finland
- Electoral Systems in Context: United Kingdom
- Electoral Systems in Context: Ireland
- Electoral Systems in Context: France
- Electoral Systems in Context: India
- Electoral Systems in Context: United States
- Electoral Systems in Context: Canada
- Electoral Systems in Context: Australia
- Electoral Systems in Context: Germany
- Electoral Systems in Context: New Zealand
- Electoral Systems in Context: Japan
- Electoral Systems in Context: Italy
- Electoral Systems in Context: Colombia
- Electoral Systems in Context: Ukraine
- Electoral Systems in Context: Indonesia
- Electoral Systems in Context: South Africa
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
Elections in the wake of dramatic transitions from authoritarian regimes to democracy may confront voters with choices that are unattractive or bewildering, or both. This chapter examines the conditions that produce tractable sets of party options for voters, presents cross-national data on the choice sets and competitiveness in elections after dramatic transitions, and examines how the electoral formula used in proportional elections can affect electoral outcomes. The chapter argues that, in transitional contexts characterized by high uncertainty, electoral rules that reward economies of moderate scale, such as the Hare quota formula, can encourage the development of attractive choice sets. As democracies and party systems develop, however, the case for electoral rules that confer representational bonuses on winning parties gains traction.
Keywords: Elections, electoral systems, democracy, transitions to democracy, accountability, proportional representation
John M. Carey, Dartmouth College, United States
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- The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems
- About the Editors
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Terminology and Basic Rules of Electoral Systems
- Dimensions of Variation in Electoral Systems
- Electoral System Effects on Party Systems
- Party System Effects on Electoral Systems
- Electoral System Design in New Democracies
- Electoral System Change
- Social Diversity, Electoral Systems, and the Party System
- Electoral Systems and Ethnic Minority Representation
- Electoral Systems and Women’s Representation
- Electoral Systems and Voter Turnout
- Electoral Systems and Citizen-Elite Ideological Congruence
- Electoral Systems and Issue Polarization
- Portfolio-Maximizing Strategic Voting in Parliamentary Elections
- Presidential and Legislative Elections
- Electoral Systems and Legislative Organization
- Electoral Systems and Roles in the Legislative Arena
- Electoral Systems and Constituency Service
- Direct Democracy and Referendums
- Electoral Systems in Authoritarian States
- Election Data and Levels of Analysis
- Experimental Research Design in the Study of Electoral Systems
- Reconciling Approaches in the Study of Mixed-Member Electoral Systems
- Election Administration
- Electoral Systems and Electoral Integrity
- Electoral Systems and Redistricting
- Electoral Systems and Campaign Finance
- Electoral Systems in Context: The Netherlands
- Electoral Systems in Context: Israel
- Electoral Systems in Context: Finland
- Electoral Systems in Context: United Kingdom
- Electoral Systems in Context: Ireland
- Electoral Systems in Context: France
- Electoral Systems in Context: India
- Electoral Systems in Context: United States
- Electoral Systems in Context: Canada
- Electoral Systems in Context: Australia
- Electoral Systems in Context: Germany
- Electoral Systems in Context: New Zealand
- Electoral Systems in Context: Japan
- Electoral Systems in Context: Italy
- Electoral Systems in Context: Colombia
- Electoral Systems in Context: Ukraine
- Electoral Systems in Context: Indonesia
- Electoral Systems in Context: South Africa
- Index