The Origin of Electoral Systems in the Postwar Era

A Worldwide Approach

Bibliographic Data

ID23555495
AuthorsKrister Lundell (0000-0001-8926-0738)
Year2009
Pages160
Publication date2009-09-10
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueThe origin of electoral systems in the postwar era (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9780203871843
OpenAlexW3022171153
ISBN9780203871843
Open LibraryOL23170526M
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited7

This book explores and presents the influence of contextual factors on the choice of electoral systems for parliamentary elections in both democracies and non-democracies around the world. Taking a macroscopic approach, the author focuses on structural explanations, with an emphasis on general patterns rather than country specific explanations. Drawn from a wealth of data, the book presents the frequency of the adoption of each electoral formula and system in the postwar era and is followed by a theoretical elaboration of electoral system choice. The author then draws on rational, cultural/historical and institutional theories which are systematically analyzed by means of sophisticated bivariate and multivariate techniques. Lundell demonstrates that few electoral systems have been chosen from rational considerations and the impact of the cultural and historical setting is tremendous; colonial legacy, regional influence and temporal trends largely explain the cross-national variation in electoral systems. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of political science, electoral politics and comparative politics.

Political economy · Political science · Sociology · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · History · Political Conflict and Governance · Religion and Society Interactions · Comparative government · Elections · Gouvernement représentatif · Political Process · Representative government and representation

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