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Research Project

Comparative Study of Electoral Systems

The late twentieth century has seen the greatest experiment in democracy in human history. As of 2006, 122 of the world's 192 countries are electoral democracies, approximately double the number of democracies just two decades earlier. Democracy depends principally on popular support for its survival and effective performance. Only those committed to democracy as the best form of government are likely to reject anti-democratic movements to overthrow the new democratic regime, especially during a serious crisis.

This project asks 'What constitutes support for democracy?' It draws on Ian McAllister's role as Chair of the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems group, a 50-nation collaborative project which commenced work in 1995 (see http://www.cses.org). A special issue of Party Politics is in press, and a special issue of Electoral Studies is planned in 2007. The research is supported by the United States National Science Foundation.

Key publications:

Parties and Party Development, a special issue of Party Politics, edited by Russell J. Dalton and Ian McAllister, forthcoming.

'Voter Satisfaction and Electoral Systems: Does Preferential Voting in Candidate-Centred Systems make a Difference?' European Journal of Political Research 45: 725-49 (2006) (with David M. Farrell).

'Accountability, Representation and Satisfaction with Democracy.' International Journal of Public Opinion Research 17(3): 371-9 (2005).