Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus 
Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus is a fortnightly series of articles on the role of art in public policymaking. This series invites WPI fellows and project leaders as well as external practitioners to contribute pieces on how artists have led policy change and how policymakers can use creative strategies.
In Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World, World Policy Institute Senior Fellow Ian Bremmer illustrates a historic shift in the international system and the world economy—and an unprecedented moment of global uncertainty.
Democracy and Electoral Systems
Two very different ideas are usually confounded under the name democracy. The pure idea of democracy, according to its definition, is the government of the whole people by the whole people, equally represented. Democracy as commonly conceived and hitherto practised is the government of the whole people by a mere majority of the people, exclusively represented. The former is synonymous with the equality of all citizens; the latter, strangely confounded with it, is a government of privilege, in favour of the numerical majority, who alone possess practically any voice in the State. This is the inevitable consequence of the manner in which the votes are now taken, to the complete disfranchisement of minorities
—John Stuart Mill, Representative Government, 1861
Electoral systems of the world:
- Types of electoral systems
- Which countries use which systems: (table | maps)
- Este País, marzo de 1994: Sufragio efectivo: Unas perspectives internacionales
The case for proportional representation:
- Boston Review: The Case for Proportional Representation
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance: What effects turnout?
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral assistance: overall, proportional representation leads to much higher representation of women in national legislatures
For more effective, color-blind, representation of minorities:
- Los Angeles Times, July 2003: European electoral systems, with ‘31 flavors,’ offer citizens better representation: ‘Baskin-Robbins’ Voting
- Christian Science Monitor, May 2003: Beyond gerrymandering and Texas posses: US electoral reform
- Christian Science Monitor, August 1995: Let’s Dump Single-Member Electoral Districts: Proportional representation would ensure minorities a place in legislatures
- Los Angeles Times, July 1994: Making Every Vote Really Count: “Winner take all” isn’t fair—a proportional system would offer minority voices a chance for representation
Proportional representation in U.S. local elections:
- Cambridge, Massachusetts: Elections for City Council and School Committee
- Fort Myers (Florida) News-Press, 21 March 1998: For a county commission that resembles its citizens
A related concept for electing members of the executive branch (mayors, governors, presidents) without primaries or runoffs:
- Instant runoff elections: the Alternative Vote (AV), aka Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)
Links:
Proportional representation:
To help U.S. citizens vote intelligently, this site provides facts on elected officials and candidates:
An electronic town hall—register your choices online, then compare with contributions from other contributors:
Global Democracy and Human Rights Home
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