In this respect, the two-party majority system found in the United States
may be more responsive. In a competitive two-party system, a small number
of votes are enough to change the party in power (Norris 1997: 305). This is
not true in a proportional electoral system, however, where a small number of
votes are insufficient to alter the balance of power (Norris 1997: 305).The main
purpose of the majority electoral system is to protect the government from
extreme political parties. ‘The way that the system penalizes minor parties can
be seen by proponents as a virtue. It prevents fringe groups on the extreme
right or left from acquiring representative legitimacy, thereby avoiding a fragmented
parliament full of “fads and faddists” ’ (Norris 1997: 305).
Stability becomes another important value enforced in the majority electoral
system. A ‘responsible party government’ is valued more highly than the
inclusion of minority parties and values (Norris 1997: 305). When examining
the electoral systems, the representation of minor parties in the legislature is
reflected in the POLITY IV measure of democracy, while responsiveness and
stability are not.
These results are increasingly significant as democracy is promoted around
the world. As noted by Pippa Norris (1997: 297), ‘wholesale and radical reform
of the basic electoral system – meaning the way votes are translated into
seats – has been relatively rare’.While consolidated democracies of the world
are less likely to change their electoral system in order to fulfil a democratic
ideal, there have been important electoral changes in the last thirty years.
France (Lijphart & Grofman 1984: 11), Italy, Japan (McKean & Scheiner
2000), Venezuela and New Zealand (Banducci 1999) have shifted to proportional
representation in recent years.
Countries involved in the Third Wave of democracy are now faced
with deciding how to structure a new government and may have a better
political parties, electoral systems and democracy