The case for the alternative vote

Bibliographic Data

ID6379653
AuthorsPeter Hain (Welsh Government, corresponding author)
Year1997
Volume34
Issue2
Pages121-126
Publication date1997-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueRepresentation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0034-4893 • E-ISSN: 1749-4001
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00344899708522999
OpenAlexW1580070675
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited1

The alternative vote is an attractive, pragmatic alternative to proportional representation argues Peter Hain. The current first‐past‐the‐post system is unfair and the case for electoral reform is strong. But the fatal defect of all the major proportional representation systems is that the scope for local accountability is undermined, and power is sucked upwards to regional or national levels of the party structure. To question the case for PR is therefore not to defend the status quo. It is common ground amongst those who hold progressive opinions ‐whether they are pro‐PR, anti‐PR or agnostic about it ‐ that Britain's political system is antiquated, much too centralised, elitist and obsessively secretive. Far‐reaching changes ‐ including devolution, a Bill of Rights and an elected second chamber ‐ are necessary to make it genuinely democratic.1 As part of these changes, electoral reform is desirable. A different option, the 'alternative vote', would substantially satisfy the desire for fairness whilst protecting the other democratic principles which PR can be shown to undermine.2

Accountability · Democracy · Devolution (biology · Electoral reform · Law and economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Proportional representation · Representation (politics · Scope (computer science · Sociology · Status quo · Status quo bias · Computer Science · Law · Political Systems and Governance

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