Electoral Systems and Political Transformation in Post-Communist Europe assesses the influence of electoral systems on political change in 20 post-communist European states. The main finding is that electoral institutions have systematic effects on the formation of representative structures. 'Party-enabling' aspects of electoral laws such as list proportional representation tend to foster popular inclusion in politics and institutionalized party systems, whereas 'politician-enabling' rules such as single-member districts and ballots that allow voters to select individuals often favour the development of weakly structured systems and high levels of popular exclusion from the representative process.

Autorentext
SARAH BIRCH is a Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. She has published numerous articles on elections and democratization, and she is the co-author of Embodying Democracy: Electoral System Design in Post-Communist Europe (Palgrave Macmillan 2002).

Inhalt
List of Tables Preface PART I: ELECTORAL SYSTEMS IN POST-COMMUNIST EUROPE Electoral Institutions and Post-Communist Transition: Theoretical Considerations An Overview of Post-Communist Electoral Systems: Design and Measurement PART II: ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND VOTERS Electoral Participation Representational Inclusion PART III: ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND PARTIES Party System Size and Shape Party System Stability and Change Conclusion Appendix A: Summary Election Results for 20 Post-Communist States Appendix B: Data Sources Appendix C: Data on Party System Evolution Bibliography