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Majority Voting as a Catalyst of Populism

Preferential Decision-making for an Inclusive Democracy

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Peter Emerson

    1. The de Borda Institute, Belfast, UK

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  • Offers a critique of binary voting procedures, supported by illustrative case studies
  • Suggests all-party power-sharing should replace all forms of single-party or majority coalition majority rule
  • Compellingly argues that majority-rule systems tend to promote conflicts and populism

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxix
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  2. Voting Theory

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Decision-making in Parliaments and Referendums

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 3-30

    3. Parliamentary and Presidential Elections

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 31-52

    4. Governance: From Power-dividing to Power-sharing

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 53-73

  3. The Practice

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 75-75
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    2. Majority Voting in Belfast, Dublin and London

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 77-105

    3. Continental Europe: Are We All Little Bolsheviks?

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 107-151

    4. Asia, Where Voting Was Invented

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 153-183

    5. Majoritarian Democracy: The Catalyst of Populism

      • Peter Emerson
      Pages 185-189

  4. Back Matter

    Pages 191-227
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Keywords

About this book

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

“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)

Authors and Affiliations

  • The de Borda Institute, Belfast, UK

    Peter Emerson

About the author

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). 

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