Changing Party Access to Elections

Bowler, Shaun; Carter, Elisabeth; Farrell, David M.

Abstract

This chapter examines whether it has become easier or more difficult for political parties to participate in elections. It does this by comparing the electoral systems and the wider electoral laws (including those governing ballot access, media access, and the receipt of state subventions) in operation in a number of OECD countries in 1960 to those in operation in 2000. While it finds there has been little electoral system change over this period, it does report evidence of changes in the wider electoral laws, the general evolution of which appears to have been towards a more liberal environment for all political parties. This does not necessarily mean an easier time for small or new parties, however, and may instead suggest a type of cartelization between the established parties.

Citation

Bowler, S., Carter, E., & Farrell, D. M. (2003). Changing Party Access to Elections. In Democracy Transformed? Expanding Political Opportunities in Advanced Industrial Democracies (81-112). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/0199264996.003.0005

• Publication Date: Dec 18, 2003
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2024
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Pages: 81-112
• Book Title: Democracy Transformed? Expanding Political Opportunities in Advanced Industrial Democracies
• Chapter Number: 5
• ISBN: 0199264996; 9780199264995; 9780191603259
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0199264996.003.0005
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/830297
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/book/36220/chapter-abstract/315618293?redirectedFrom=fulltext