Search results for ""author sören holmberg""

This book uses Sweden as a test case to analyze how parliament and elected representatives function in a representative democracy. Despite the status of Scandinavian countries as perhaps the world’s most egalitarian societies, the book argues that the best summary characterization of Swedish representative democracy is an elitist system run from above. The book also argues that an individualist representational model is relevant to the Swedish setting and most likely, to other settings as well. Representative democracy is not just party-based democracy - not even in a country with strong and disciplined parties. The book takes a broad approach to the study of political representation. It integrates into a single analytical framework concepts and theories from neighbouring traditions such as legislative behaviour, opinion formation and interest organizations. The study is based on a comprehensive set of data, including three surveys of the Members of the Swedish Parliament, corresponding voter surveys and content analysis of mass media and parliamentary records.

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In all societies, the quality of government institutions is of the utmost importance for the well-being of its citizens. Problems like high infant mortality, lack of access to safe water, unhappiness and poverty are not primarily caused by a lack of technical equipment, effective medicines or other types of knowledge generated by the natural or engineering sciences. Instead, the critical problem is that the majority of the world s population live in societies that have dysfunctional government institutions. Central issues discussed in the book include: how can good government be conceptualized and measured, what are the effects of 'bad government' and how can the quality of government be improved? Good Government will prove invaluable for students in political science, public policy and public administration. Researchers in political science and the social sciences, as well as policy analysts working in government, international and independent policy organizations will also find plenty to interest them in this resourceful compendium. Contributors: E. Andersson, M. Bauhr, N. Charron, C. Dahlstrom, M.A. Fardigh, S. Holmberg, V. Lapuente, S.I. Lindberg, N. Nasiritousi, H. Oscarsson, A. Persson, B. Rothstein, M. Samanni, M. Sjostedt, H.O. Stensota, J. Teorell, L. Wangnerud

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The strength of partisanship is a matter of historic importance and debate in modern democracies. Based on cutting-edge global data, the Research Handbook on Political Partisanship argues that partisanship is down, but not out, in contemporary societies. Contributors focus on four key areas of research: the role and importance of partisanship for democratic rule; how to measure and secure data on partisanship; explanations of the origins and development of partisanship; and the effects of partisanship on citizens' attitudes and behaviours, and on the function of democratic systems. Engaging with key contemporary debates, from the rise of right-wing populist parties to the effects of digitalization partisanship, this timely Research Handbook highlights the significance of political partisanship not only in the present but for the future of democracies internationally. Featuring contributions from leading scholars, this book is critical for graduate students of political science and sociology, as well as for advanced researchers investigating elections and electorates, voter trends and contemporary political parties. Policymakers and political consultants will also benefit from its insights into the political engagement of voters and the future of party-based democracy. Contributors include: J.H. Aldrich, E. Anduiza, A. Bankert, A. Bussing, L.M. Carius-Munz, R.J. Dalton, C. Davies, F. Ecormier-Nocca, M.N. Franklin, R. Gibson, E. Gidengil, K. Grönlund, E. Guntermann, Ó.T. Hardarson, S. Holmberg, M. Hooghe, L. Huddy, S. Kosmidis, A. Krishmamurthy, M. Kroh, M. Krönke, G. Lutz, N. Madan, S.J. Mayer, R. Mattes, I. McAllister, K. Mehling Ice, N. Nevitte, E.H. Önnudóttir, H. Oscarsson, R. Pannico, K.M. Renberg, H.M. Ridge, M. Rosema, J. Sandor, N. Sauger, A. Shehata, C. Shenga, M.R. Steenbergen, J. Strömbäck, J. Thomassen, S. Ward, A. Widfeldt, M. Yamada

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