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A Synopsis of the Book Electoral Systems

M C Raj

The Book Electoral Reforms has three major sections

Section 1 deals with the evolution of Democracy. It takes a criticallook on the way democracy developed from the period ofEnlightenment starting from 16 Century and has led to modern andpostmodern democratic governance. It also looks at the way Indiandemocracy and nationalism evolved from 1906.

Section 2 deals with the way electoral systems are designed indifferent representative democracies in the world. This sectionexposes both the advantages and disadvantages of the Majoritarian

Electoral System, especially one of its variants the First Past The Postelectoral system (FPTP). It deals elaborately with the application ofFPTP in India.

In the second part of Section 2 the book deals with ProportionalRepresentation System and its variants.

Section 3 deals with an India specific Proportional Representationsystem. Along with Section 2 it is a more of a technical section.However, keeping the readers who are not used to electoral systems,it also explains well the technical dimensions.

Chapter 1

It is all about the way democracy evolved from the period ofenlightenment to modern and postmodern periods. The main focus ofthe section is to see how governance has become exclusive in somecontexts and inclusive in some other contexts. Who has advantageand disadvantage of inclusive governance and exclusive governanceare elaborated upon.

Chapter 2

This chapter gives a technical explanation of different types ofdemocracies prevalent in different countries and also links it up withGlobalization as an overarching reality of postmodern democracy.

Chapter 3

This chapter is about the way Indian democracy developed especiallyfrom 1906. It gives a scientific analysis of the two types ofnationalism that developed in India through the period of

independence till today. The two nationalisms are CulturalNationalism and Political Nationalism.

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Chapter 4

It deals with Majoritarian Electoral System. It exposes the Advantagesand disadvantages of First Past The Post (FPTP) electoral system. It

also gives a scientific and technical explanation of the different typesof Majoritarian Electoral System. The Chapter ends with technicaldetails of Semi-Proportional representation system.

Chapter 5

This is a chapter on Proportional Representation system. It moves onto explain the advantages and general misgivings on PR system. Thechapter further proceeds to technical details of PR system such asparty list system, counting methods, threshold, two votes system,electoral quota etc. It also deals with the variants of PR system.

Chapter 6

This is all about the present electoral system (FPTP) as it is beingpracticed in India. It gives an analysis of the difficulties India is facingwith FPTP and moves are identify certain critical issues within thegovernance of India. Then the chapter gives a projection for apossible alternative electoral system for India.

Chapter 7

This chapter can be said to be unique and the most important one forIndia. It has developed an India specific PR system. Mixed MemberProportional (MMP) system for India is apt with two votes and closedlist. All the possible technical dimensions of MMP for India are given inan explanatory way to make understanding easy by Indian andinternational readers who are not used to electoral systems.

Chapter 8

The Constituent Assembly discussions on PR system and different

efforts that have been made in India towards PR system are broughtout.

Chapter 9

This is a simple chapter on the evolution of the Campaign forElectoral Reforms in India (CERI) initiated by the author.

Chapter 10

The National Law Commission of India submitted its report onelectoral reforms to Indian Parliament in 1999. It has strongly

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recommended PR system for India. Excerpts from this Report aretaken for the information of readers. Only those aspects that dealwith PR system recommendations are taken to the readers in thischapter.

Chapter 11

This is another crucial chapter that concludes the book with differentelectoral models of PR system in five countries where the author tookup the research. These countries are Germany, New Zealand,Norway, Nepal and the Netherlands.

The book has a section of references and another section of glossary.