Original scientific paper
PATTERNS OF ELECTORAL REFORMS IN STABLE DEMOCRACIES: NEW ZEALAND, ITALY AND JAPAN
Mirjana Kasapović
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In stable democracies, radical electoral changes necessitating the alteration of the type of electoral system are very rare. That is why the typological electoral reforms in New Zealand, Italy and Japan in the 1990s generated huge scientific and public interest. In all three cases, the reforms were brought about by profound political crises, primarily by the electoral system crises. The reforms were carried out according to different patterns. The New Zealand electoral reform was an expression of a highly sophisticated intellectual design of political institutions legitimized by a referendum. The Italian reform was exacted through the initiatives and actions of the political and the civilian actors and was also confirmed by a referendum. The Japanese reform was a result of a contingently exacted party arrangement. In all three cases – to the biggest extent in Italy, and to the smallest extent in Japan – the reforms were implemented regardless of the will of the main political parties and most politicians.
Keywords
electoral reform; electoral system; New Zealand; Italy; Japan; party system
Hrčak ID:
23672
URI
Publication date:
5.3.2003.
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