Why do people vote?
The theory that underpins modern economics is the idea that people act rationally. Their actions will be based on an analysis of the information available to them and they will …
electoral reform
It matters who governs
Politics is not only about policies but also about personalities. The very best ideas are no good if they are implemented incompetently. Good leaders are able to recruit the right …
Local government pause for thought
It has long been a contention of this website that democracy should be thought of not merely as a set of rules but as a culture. While elections and elected …
From the people who brought you electoral reform
The government’s plans for reforming the House of Lords are in disarray. A substantial majority – 462 to 124 – in the House of Commons voted for reform but the …
From the people who brought you electoral reform Read More »
The end of the coalition
The results of the voting that took place on 3 May surely spell the beginning of the end for Britain’s coalition government. (Read about the election results here.) I am …
The House of Lords is a mess
The House of Lords is a mess. It brings together in one place party political nominees (often former MPs), acknowledged experts on particular issues, descendants of drinking buddies of long-deceased …
Federal Union review of 2011
Last year was dominated by the crisis in the eurozone. It dominated the debate about the future of European integration, obviously, but has also turned out to be a major …
A German decision that sets back Europe
News reaches me of a rather strange decision by the German constitutional court regarding the elections to the European Parliament. The ruling is forcing a change in the way in …
Who votes for the US president?
This blog has reported previously on the American presidential election system and the way it represents the country unevenly, by starting the primary process in one small town in Iowa. …
All voters are not equal
One of the basic ideas of federalism is that citizens of the federation all have equal rights, regardless of which member state they might live in. Their rights with respect …