Elections and electoral systems
Evidence from the United States shows that the gerrymandering of district boundaries is not necessarily a cause of political polarisation
In the United States, boundaries for the House of Representatives and many states are decided by the membership themselves rather than an independent commission (as is the case in the UK and many other European democracies). Reformers in the United States argue that the commission based model is superior and that it would act as […]
It remains to be seen whether recent reforms can reverse Mexico’s decline in electoral integrity
Mexico has a chequered history when it comes to elections, with its electoral integrity occasionally coming under question. Here, Miguel Angel Lara Otaola assesses Mexico against the Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index and analyses recent elections as well as the recent problems faced by the country from the disappearance of 43 students last year to the recent escape from prison by […]
The rise of Jeremy Corbyn shows what happens when you crowdsource a leadership election
Jeremy Corbyn has become the unlikely frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, leapfrogging the previous favourites Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham, and leaving the right-wing Liz Kendall a distant fourth favourite. Few expected this outcome, but while there is obviously an appetite for something ‘different’ in the Labour Party following a second consecutive election loss, Tom […]
Direct democracy is ill-fitted to engaging the politically disengaged, but popular with more active citizens
The UK has seen a spate of referendums since 1997, with the public being consulted on the creation of new mayoralties, parliaments, assemblies, voting systems, and soon our membership of the European Union. But does direct democracy have the potential to engage those who are currently disinterested in politics? Arndt Leninger argues that while it […]
The words ‘plebiscite’ and ‘referendum’ should not be used interchangeably, as each has a different and distinct meaning
In 2017, the UK is scheduled to hold a referendum on our membership of the European Union, with David Cameron set to campaign for retention of our status as a EU member state. The vote has been described as a referendum and a plebiscite, but Richard Rose cautions against using the terms interchangeably as they […]
Compulsory voting is not the answer, but fixing an archaic system is
What lies behind voter disengagement? While some blame a crumbling political and electoral infrastructure, others lay the fault at the feet of voters themselves, and posit compulsory voting as the answer. The idea has an enduring appeal for many people, who look enviously at high turnouts in Australia, but is it suitable in the British […]
Ensuring equal representation in Parliament: who counts?
The UK government announced on July 16 that it had decided to end the transition period to Individual Electoral Registration early. The Electoral Commission had recommended that it did not, and thereby allow some 1.9 million people who would otherwise be removed to remain on the electoral roll for a further year. The Commission’s reasons […]
Greece surrendered, but the real defeat was for Europe
Greek MPs recently approved an austerity package with the Eurogroup. Michael Cox writes that the conditions attached to the bailout were exceptionally tough and aimed largely at deterring other left-wing parties, such as Podemos in Spain, from challenging the status quo. He argues that while the final agreement represented a surrender by the Greek government, […]
Voters react to ethnic minority candidates in different and sometimes unexpected ways
The number of ethnic minority MPs and parliamentary candidates is on the rise – despite this, numbers are still disappointingly low, as is the case in many influential sectors in the UK. Here, Josh Zinger and Benjamin D. Farrer share research which shows that voters react to ethnic minority candidates differently depending on their own […]
The Canadian experience shows the benefits of embracing deliberative democracy
Canada shares a number of political and cultural characteristics with the UK, not least its Westminster system of government. Despite this, the North American country is streets ahead of the UK when it comes to the quality of its democracy, and as Peter MacLeod argues in this Policy Network repost, it has become something of […]
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