Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:35:45.040Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An intra-party account of electoral system choice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2018

Valentin Schröder  and
Philip Manow
Valentin Schröder
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, Bremen University, Mary-Somerville Str. 5, Bremen D-28359, Germany
Philip Manow*
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, Bremen University, Mary-Somerville Str. 5, Bremen D-28359, Germany
*
*Corresponding author. Email: manow@zes.uni-bremen.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We present an intra-party account of electoral reform, contrasting the incentives of legislators (MPs) with those of party leaders. We develop our argument along the switch to proportional representation (PR) in early 20th century Europe. District-level electoral alliances allowed bourgeois MPs to counter the “socialist threat” under the electoral systems in place. PR was thus unnecessary from the seat-maximizing perspective that dominates previous accounts—intra-party considerations were crucial: candidate nomination and legislative cohesion. We show our argument to hold empirically both for the prototypical case of Germany, 1890–1920, using encompassing district-level data on candidatures, elections, electoral alliances, roll call votes and a series of simulations on reform effects; and for the implementation of electoral reforms in 29 countries, 1900–31.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Political Science Research and Methods , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , April 2020 , pp. 251 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © The European Political Science Association 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmed, A (2013) Democracy and the Politics of Electoral System Choice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Alexander, M (2000) Die Freikonservative Partei 1890–1918: Gemäßigter Konservatismus in der konstitutionellen Monarchie. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Anderson, ML (2000) Practicing Democracy: Elections and Political Culture in Imperial Germany. Princeton/NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Andrews, JTandJackman, RW (2005) Strategic Fools: Electoral Rule Choice under Extreme Uncertainty. Electoral Studies 24(1), 65–84.10.1016/j.electstud.2004.03.002CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benoit, K (2004) Models of Electoral System Change. Electoral Studies 23(3), 363–389.10.1016/S0261-3794(03)00020-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blais, A, Dobrzynska, AandIndridason, IH (2005) To Adopt or Not to Adopt Proportional Representation: The Politics of Institutional Choice. British Journal of Political Science 35, 182–190.10.1017/S0007123405000098CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boix, C (1999) Setting the Rules of the Game: The Choice of Electoral Systems in Advanced Democracies. American Political Science Review 93(3), 609–624.10.2307/2585577CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boix, C (2010) Electoral Markets, Party Strategies, and Proportional Representation. American Political Science Review 104(2), 404–413.10.1017/S0003055410000146CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braunias, K (1932) Das parlamentarische Wahlrecht: Ein Handbuch über die Bildung der gesetzgebenden Körperschaften in Europa. Berlin: De Gruyter.Google Scholar
Callander, S (2005a) Duverger’s Hypothesis, the Run-off Rule, and Electoral Competition. Political Analysis 13(3), 209–232.10.1093/pan/mpi013CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callander, S (2005b) Electoral Competition in Heterogeneous Districts. Journal of Political Economy 113(5), 1116–1145.10.1086/444405CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calvo, E (2009) The Competitive Road to Proportional Representation: Partisan Biases and Electoral Regime Change under Increasing Party Competition. World Politics 61(2), 254–295.10.1017/S0043887109000100CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, PW (1965) French Electoral Systems and Elections since 1789. 2nd ed. London: Faber.Google Scholar
Carey, JM (2007) Competing Principals, Political Institutions, and Party Unity in Legislative Voting. American Journal of Political Science 51(1), 92–107.10.1111/j.1540-5907.2007.00239.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, JM (2009) Legislative Voting and Accountability. Cambridge/England: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Carey, JMandHix, S (2011) The Electoral Sweet Spot: Low-Magnitude Proportional Electoral Systems. American Journal of Political Science 55(2), 383–397.10.1111/j.1540-5907.2010.00495.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, JMandShugart, MS (1995) Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: A Rank Ordering of Electoral Formulas. Electoral Studies 14(4), 417–439.10.1016/0261-3794(94)00035-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carstairs, AML (1980) A Short History of Electoral Systems in Western Europe. London: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Colomer, JM (2005) It’s Parties that Choose Electoral Systems (or, Duverger’s Laws Upside Down). Political Studies 53(1), 1–21.10.1111/j.1467-9248.2005.00514.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colomer, JM (2011) Introduction: Personal and Party Representation. In JM Colomer (Ed.), Personal Representation: The Neglected Dimension of Electoral Systems, 1–20. Colchester/England: ECPR Press.Google Scholar
Cox, GW (1997) Making Votes Count: Strategic Coordination in the World’s Electoral System. New York: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9781139174954CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cox, GW (2006) The Organization of Democratic Legislatures. In BR Weingast and RE Goodin (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Political Economy, 141–161. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Cox, GW, Fiva, JHandSmith, DM (Forthcoming) Parties, Legislators, and the Origins of Proportional Representation. Comparative Political Studies, 1–42.Google Scholar
Cusack, T, Iversen, TandSoskice, D (2007) Economic Interests and the Origins of Electoral Systems. American Political Science Review 101(3), 373–391.10.1017/S0003055407070384CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cusack, T, Iversen, TandSoskice, D (2010) Coevolution of Capitalism and Political Representation: The Choice of Electoral Systems. American Political Science Review 104(2), 393–403.10.1017/S0003055410000134CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewan, TandSpirling, A (2011) Strategic Opposition and Government Cohesion in Westminster Democracies. American Political Science Review 105(2), 337–358.10.1017/S0003055411000050CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diermeier, DandVlaicu, R (2011) Parties, Coalitions, and the Internal Organization of Legislatures. American Political Science Review 105(2), 359–380.10.1017/S0003055411000104CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duverger, M (1955) Political Parties. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Ergun, SJ (2010) From Plurality Rule to Proportional Representation. Economics of Governance 11(4), 373–408.10.1007/s10101-010-0081-zCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fairbairn, B (1997) Democracy in the Undemocratic State: The German Reichstag Elections of 1898 and 1903. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar
Hartenstein, W (1962) Die Anfänge der Deutschen Volkspartei 1918–1920. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Indridason, IH (2008) Competition & Turnout: The Majority Run-off as a Natural Experiment. Electoral Studies 27(4), 699–710.10.1016/j.electstud.2008.05.006CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kam, CJ (2014) Party Discipline. In S Martin, T Saalfeld and K Strøm (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies, 399–417. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Katz, RSandMair, P (1993) The Evolution of Party Organization in Europe: The Three Faces of Party Organization. American Review of Politics 14(4), 593–617.10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1993.14.0.593-617CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katz, RSandMair, P (1995) Changing Models of Party Organization and Party Democracy: The Emergence of the Cartel Party. Party Politics 1(1), 5–28.10.1177/1354068895001001001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kedar, O, Harsgor, LandSheinerman, RA (2016) Are Voters Equal Under Proportional Representation? American Journal of Political Science 60(3), 676–691.10.1111/ajps.12225CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kiewiet, DRandMcCubbins, MD (1991) Delegation and Agency Problems. The Logic of Delegation: Congressional Parties and the Appropriation Process, 22–38. Chicago: University Press.Google Scholar
Kreuzer, M (2003) Parliamentarization and the Question of German Exceptionalism: 1867–1918. Central European History 36(3), 327–357.10.1163/156916103771006034CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kreuzer, M (2010) Historical Knowledge and Quantitative Analysis: The Case of the Origins of Proportional Representation. American Political Science Review 104(2), 369–392.10.1017/S0003055410000122CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laakso, MandTaagepera, R (1979) “Effective” Number of Parties: A Measure with Application to West Europe. Comparative Political Studies 12(1), 3–27.10.1177/001041407901200101CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lachapelle, G (1913) La représentation proportionelle en France et en Belgique 2nd ed. Paris: Librairie Félix Alcan.Google Scholar
Laver, MandShepsle, KA (1999) How Political Parties Emerged from the Primeval Slime: Party Cohesion, Party Discipline, and the Formation of Governments. In S Bowler, DM Farrell and RS Katz (Ed.), Party Discipline and Parliamentary Government, 23–48. Columbus/OH: Ohio State University Press.Google Scholar
Leemann, LandMares, I (2014) The Adoption of Proportional Representation. Journal of Politics 76(2), 461–478.10.1017/S0022381613001394CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leyenaar, MandHazan, RY (2011) Reconceptualising Electoral Reform. West European Politics 34(3), 437–455.10.1080/01402382.2011.555974CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liebe, W (1956) Die Deutschnationale Volkspartei 1918–1924. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Lijphart, A (1992) Democratization and Constitutional Choices in Czecho-Slovaki, Hungary and Poland 1989–91. Journal of Theoretical Politics 4(2), 207–223.10.1177/0951692892004002005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maier, C (1975) Recasting Bourgeois Europe: Stabilization in France, Germany, and Italy in the Decade after World War I. Princeton: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Manow, P (2011) The Cube Rule in a Mixed Electoral System: Disproportionality in German Bundestag Elections. West European Politics 34(4), 773–794.10.1080/01402382.2011.572391CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, S (2011) Electoral Institutions, the Personal Vote, and Legislative Organization. Legislative Studies Quarterly 36(3), 339–361.10.1111/j.1939-9162.2011.00018.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matakos, KandXefteris, D (2015) Strategic Electoral Rule Choice under Uncertainty. Public Choice 162(3–4), 329–350.10.1007/s11127-014-0228-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matthias, E (1969) Einleitung. In: S Miller and H Potthoff (Ed.), Die Regierung der Volksbeauftragten 1918/19. vol. 1, xv-cxxx. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Matthias, EandPikart, E (1966) Bemerkungen zur Praxis der Kandidatenaufstellung und zur Frage einer “wirklich proletarischen Repräsentation”. In E Matthias and P Eberhard (Ed.), Die Reichstagsfraktion der deutschen Sozialdemokratie 1898 bis 1918 vol. 1, lxvii–xc. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Meyer, GandJellinek, G (1901) Das Parlamentarische Wahlrecht. Berlin: O. Häring.Google Scholar
Mezdeg, GandNohlen, D (1969) Frankreich. In D Sternberger and B Vogel (Ed.), Die Wahl der Parlamente und anderer Staatsorgane vol. 1, 441–554. Europa. Berlin: de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Michels, R (1957[1925]) Zur Soziologie des Parteiwesens in der moderen Demokratie: Untersuchungen über die oligarchischen Tendenzen des Gruppenlebens 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Kröner.Google Scholar
Miller, S (1978) Die Bürde der Macht: Die deutsche Sozialdemokratie 1918–1920. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Nipperdey, T (1961) Die Organisation der deutschen Parteien vor 1918. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Nohlen, D (2010) France. In D Nohlen and P Stöver (Ed.), Elections in Europe: A Data Handbook vol, 639–721. Baden-Baden: Nomos.10.5771/9783845223414-639CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noiret, S (1994) La nascità del sistema dei partiti nell’Italia contemporanea: la proporzionale del 1919. Rome: Laicaita.Google Scholar
Nunez, LandJacobs, KTE (2016) Catalysts and Barriers: Explaining Electoral Reform in Western Europe. European Journal of Political Research 55(3), 454–473.10.1111/1475-6765.12138CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ostrogorski, M (1964[1902]) Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties. New York: Doubleday.Google Scholar
Palfrey, TR (1984) Spatial Equilibrium with Entry. Review of Economic Studies 51(1), 139–156.10.2307/2297710CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahat, GandHazan, RY (2011) The Barriers to Electoral System Reform: A Synthesis of Alternative Approaches. West European Politics 34(3), 478–494.10.1080/01402382.2011.555976CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raymond, C (2016) Explaining the Multiparty Systems of Western Europe Prior to the Adoption of Proportional Representation. Comparative European Politics 14(3), 253–272.10.1057/cep.2014.27CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reibel, C-W (2011) Bündnis und Kompromiss: Parteienkooperation im Deutschen Kaiserreich 1890–1918. Historische Zeitschrift 293(1), 71–114.10.1524/hzhz.2011.0035CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reibel, C-W(B) (2007) Handbuch der Reichstagswahlen 1890–1918: Bündnisse, Ergebnisse, Kandidaten. Düsseldorf: Droste.Google Scholar
Renwick, A (2010) The Politics of Electoral Reform. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511676390CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rice, SA (1925) The Behavior of Legislative Groups. Political Science Quarterly 40(1), 60–72.10.2307/2142407CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riker, WH (1962) The Theory of Political Coalitions. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Ritter, GA (2002) Die Reichstagswahlen und die Wurzeln der deutschen Demokratie im Kaiserreich. Historische Zeitschrift 275(2), 385–403.10.1524/hzhz.2002.275.jg.385CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogowski, R (1987) Trade and the Variety of Democratic Institutions. International Organization 41(2), 203–223.10.1017/S0020818300027442CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rokkan, S (2009[1970]) Citizens, Elections, Parties: Approaches to the Comparative Study to the Process of Development. Colchester: ECPR Press.Google Scholar
Saalfeld, T (1995) On Dogs and Whips: Recorded Votes. In H Döring (Ed.), Parliaments and Majority Rule in Western Europe, 528–566. Frankfurt am Main: Campus.Google Scholar
Saalfeld, TandStrøm, K (2014) Political Parties and Legislators. In S Martin, T Saalfeld and K Strøm (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies, 371–398. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Schonhardt-Bailey, C (1998) Parties and Interests in the ‘Marriage of Iron and Rye’. In, British Journal of Political Science 28, 291–332.10.1017/S0007123498000179CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shepsle, KAandWeingast, BR (1981) Political Preferences for the Pork Barrel: A Generalization. American Journal of Political Science 25(1), 96–111.10.2307/2110914CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sieberer, U (2006) Party Unity in Parliamentary Democracies: A Comparative Analysis. The Journal of Legislative Studies 12(2), 150–178.10.1080/13572330600739413CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tiemann, G (2015) Local Districts, National Contexts, and the Number of Parties. West European Politics 38(1), 123–144.10.1080/01402382.2014.916037CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weingast, BR (1979) A Rational Choice Perspective on Congressional Norms. American Journal of Political Science 23(2), 245–262.10.2307/2111001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: Link

Schröder and Manow Dataset

Dataset

https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/HJJJPJ
Link
Supplementary material: PDF

Schröder and Manow supplementary material

Schröder and Manow supplementary material
Download Schröder and Manow supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 252.2 KB