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Elections lie at the heart of democracy, and this book seeks to understand how the rules governing those elections are chosen. Drawing on both broad comparisons and detailed case studies, it focuses upon the electoral rules that govern what sorts of preferences voters can express and how votes translate into seats in a legislature. Through detailed examination of electoral reform politics in four countries (France, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand), Alan Renwick shows how major electoral system changes in established democracies occur through two contrasting types of reform process. Renwick rejects the simple view that electoral systems always straightforwardly reflect the interests of the politicians in power. Politicians' motivations are complex; politicians are sometimes unable to pursue reforms they want; occasionally, they are forced to accept reforms they oppose. The Politics of Electoral Reform shows how voters and reform activists can have real power over electoral reform.
Reconsidering provincial and federal debates about democratic reform alternatives.
Proportional Representation on Trial examines the 1999 election in New Zealand and its aftermath. The last electoral contest of the twentieth century resulted in a complete change of government. In 1999 Labour returned to power as the main party in a coalition minority government. Proportional representation in the form of MMP made the difference. The fourth in a series of election studies, Proportional Representation on Trial traces the evolution of public attitudes to MMP, presents a comprehensive assessment of the effects of proportional representation, and discusses the experiment of the two citizen-initiated referendums.
The extraordinary rise and and tragic fall of South Canterbury Finance's Allan Hubbard. Accountant, investor and financier Allan Hubbard was very much loved by thousands of South Islanders, and when his finance company South Canterbury Finance went into receivership, taking the savings of thousands of people with it, it was a huge blow to the country. The subsequent investigation by the Serious Fraud Office was a further blow to Hubbard's reputation. Well known for his generosity, his frugal lifestyle and his entrepreneurship, Hubbard was something of a folk hero and held in very high esteem. This biography tells his story by way of fascinating anecdotes - from his childhood in the Depressio...
When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seized power in October 1949 China was one of the poorest nations in the world. In fact, it was so weak it had been conquered by Japan, a country one-tenth its size, a decade earlier. Now, more than fifty years later, the People's Republic of China (PRC) is an emerging economic, political, and military superpower with the world's fastest growing economy and largest population (1.3 billion in 2005). A member of the United Nations Security Council since the early 1970s and a nuclear power, China wields enormous influence in the world community. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the People's Republic of China contains more than 400 cross-r...
The World Today Series: East & Southeast Asia provides historical background on the evolution of Modern East & Southeast Asia to help readers gain a thorough understanding of contemporary developments in this vital region. Broad introductory regional chapters are followed by sections on each country in the region. The combination of factual accuracy and up-to-date detail make this an outstanding resource for researchers, practitioners in international development, media professionals, government officials, potential investors, and students to understand the immediate background of contemporary developments.
Updated edition of : Referendums. c1978.
Updated annually, East & Southeast Asia provides just enough historical background on the evolution of Modern East & Southeast Asia to help readers understand contemporary developments in this vital region.
The last continent to be claimed by Europeans, Australia began to be settled by the British in 1788 in the form of a jail for its convicts. While British culture has had the largest influence on the country and its presence can be seen everywhere, the British were not Australia's original populace. The first inhabitants of Australia, the Aborigines, are believed to have migrated from Southeast Asia into northern Australia as early as 60,000 years ago. This distinctive blend of vastly different cultures contributed to the ease with which Australia has become one of the world's most successful immigrant nations. The A to Z of Australia relates the history of this unique and beautiful land, whi...
A cross-country comparison of recent Labour Party governments in New Zealand, Britain, and Australia, and an exploration of how those countries' labour movements responded to their parties' neoliberal policies in power.