Comparing Electoral Systems

by David M. Farrell

xiv 191p as new, with author inscription

191 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

David M. Farrell is Professor of Politics and Head of the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin. He is a specialist in the study of parties and electoral systems, founding co-editor of Party Politics, and co-editor of the ECPR/Oxford University Press series, Comparative Politics.

Reviews

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/comparing-electoral-systems-by-david-m-farrell/

This is basically a survey of electoral systems in the sense of formulae for translating votes cast into seats won, and goes through first-past-the-post, second ballots, alternative vote, list systems, additional member systems and finally the Single Transferable Vote, which is of course the best system of them all (surely an uncontroversial conclusion).

It’s thorough and informative, though I regret that there is not more Eastern Europe in it – by 1997, many of the new democracies were in their second or third electoral cycle and could have supplied useful data. Nowadays we have seen stable multi-party systems emerge in many parts of the world, and also electoral innovation even in the UK.

I see that a third edition of the book is coming out in November, at an eye-watering price.