Aim of the session: To critically examine the literature on electoral systems (both as dependent and independent variables), to explore the factors affecting the emergence and transformation of electoral systems and to analyze the outcomes predicted by theories of electoral systems..
Discussion topics:
(a) What are the most important factors affecting the emergence and/or transformation of electoral systems? Which of the different theoretical approaches to this question do you find most convincing? Why?
(b) What are the most important consequences of electoral systems? Which of the different theoretical approaches to this question do you find most convincing? Why?
Readings:
(a) Electoral systems as dependent variables
· Boix, Carles (1999), ‘Setting the Rules of the Game: The Choice of Electoral Systems in Advanced Democracies’ APSR 93 (3): 609-624.
· Colomer Josep Maria (2005), ‘It’s Parties that Choose Electoral Systems (or, Duverger’s Law’s Upside Down)’. Political Studies 53:1–21.
· Cox, Gary (1997), Making Votes Count: Strategic Coordination in the World’s Electoral Systems.
· Cusack, Thomas R., Iversen, Torben and Soskice, David (2007), ‘Economic Interests and the Origins of Electoral Systems’. American Political Science Review 101: 373-391.
· Rogowski, Ronald (1987), ‘Trade and the Variety of Democratic Institutions’. International
Organization 41: 203–24.
· Rokkan, Stein (1970), Citizens, Elections, Parties.
· Benoit, Kenneth (2007), ‘Electoral Laws as Political Consequences: Explaining the Origins and Change of Electoral Institutions’ Annual Review of Political Science 10: 363-90.
· Przeworkski, Adam, Susan Carol Stokes and Bernard Manin (1999), Democracy, Accountability
and Representation
(b) Electoral systems as independent variables
· Bawn, Kathleen, and Frances Rosenbluth (2006), ‘Short versus Long Coalitions: Electoral
Accountability and the Size of the Government Sector’. American Journal of Political Science 50:
251–65.
· Cox, Gary. Centripetal and Centrifugal Incentives in Electoral Systems. American Journal of Political Science, 1990, 34: 903-35.
· Duverger, Maurice (1963), Political Parties: Their Organization and Activity in the Modern State.
· Iversen, Torben, and Soskice, David (2006), ‘Electoral Institutions and the Politics of Coalitions: Why Some Democracies Redistribute More than Others’. American Political Science Review 100 (2): 165-191.
· Lijphart, Arend (1990), ‘The Political Consequences of Electoral Laws’ APSR 84 (2) pp 481-496.
· Powell, G Bingham (2000), Elections as Instruments of Democracy: Majoritarian and Proportional Vision.
· Persson, Torsten, and Guido Tabellini (2004), The Economic Effects of Constitutions.
· Rogowski, Ronald, and Kayser, Mark Andreas (2002), ‘Majoritarian Electoral Systems and
Consumer Power’. American Journal of Political Science 46: 526-539.
· Rae, Douglas (1971), The Political Consequences of Electoral Laws.
· Taagepeera, Rein and Matthew Shugart (1989) Seats and Votes
· Sartori, Giovanni (2001), ‘The Party-Effects of Electoral Systems’, in Larry Diamond and Richard Gunther (eds), Political Parties and Democracy.
