Majority Voting as a Catalyst of Populism
Preferential Decision-making for an Inclusive Democracy
1st Edition
Published on 25. September 2019
XXXIX, 227 pages
978-3-030-20219-4 (ISBN)
Description
This timely book presents a critique of binary majority rule and provides insights into why, in many instances, the outcome of a two-option ballot does not accurately reflect the will of the people. Based on the author's first-hand experience, majority-voting is argued to be a catalyst of populism and its divisive outcomes have prompted countless disputes throughout Europe and Asia. In like manner, simple majority rule is seen as a cause of conflict in war zones, and of dysfunction in so-called stable democracies. In order to safeguard democracy, an all-party power-sharing approach is proposed, which would make populism less attractive to voters and governments alike. In geographically arranged chapters, well-tested alternative voting procedures (e. g. non-majoritarian Modified Borda Count) are presented in case studies of Northern Ireland, Central Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Russia, China, North Korea and Mongolia.
Reviews / Votes
"This latest impressive book brings together his wealth of knowledge . . A key value added of his book is that he forces the reader to question foundational assumptions. . This book will be valuable for student of democratic processes, political science and conflict analysis." (Valery Perry, democratizationpolicy.org, September 6, 2020)More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cham
Switzerland
Publishing group
Springer International Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
XXXIX, 227 p. 33 illus., 7 illus. in color.
File size
8,05 MB
ISBN-13
978-3-030-20219-4 (9783030202194)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-20219-4
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Peter Emerson
Majority Voting as a Catalyst of Populism
Preferential Decision-making for an Inclusive Democracy
Book
10/2019
Springer
€85.59
Shipment within 7-9 days
Person
Peter Emerson
is the director of the Belfast-based international NGO "The de Borda Institute". He has campaigned for inclusive governance since 1978. His publications include
From Majority Rule to Inclusive Politics
(Springer, 2016),
Defining Democracy: Voting Procedures in Decision-Making, Elections and Governance
(2nd ed. in 2012, Springer) and
Designing an All-Inclusive Democracy: Consensual Voting Procedures for Use in Parliaments, Councils and Committees
(Springer, 2007).
Content
Decision-making in Parliaments and Referendums.- Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.- Governance: From Power-dividing to Power-sharing.- Majority Voting in Belfast, Dublin and London.- Continental Europe - Are We All Little Bolshevik?.- Asia, Where Voting was Invented.- Majoritarian Democracy - the Catalyst of Populism.
