Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven Democracies, 1945-1990

by Arend Lijphart

Book Overview

The most fundamental element of representative democracy is the electoral system--translating citizens' votes into representatives' seats. Electoral systems are also the most practical and accessible instrument available to democratic reformers. This systematic and comprehensive study describes and classifies 70 electoral systems used by 27 democracies including those of Western Europe, the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India, Israel,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198280548
• ISBN13: 9780198280545
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Influence of Institutional Structure on Political Systems

This book is just one of Lijphart's works to provide an excellent analysis of the impact of the shape of institutional structures on the behavior of political systems. A very useful read for anyone wishing to understand the new institutionalist approach to political science, as well as for anyone seeking a more particular understanding of electoral systems and the variables of such systems having a significant impact on the structure of political party systems, electoral outcomes, and legislative processes.

The classic work for election systems

The best coparative study for European and pther countries electorial systems. Great!