New Zealand's electoral reform with Jack Nagel

Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions

New Zealand’s electoral reform of 1996 is an important case to know and understand for anyone interested in institutional change.

With Jack Nagel I discuss how New Zealand moved from a Westminster type first-past-the-post system to a mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system, that we find in Germany for instance. The reform changed not only the character of its parliament but also of its governments. The reform has allowed smaller parties to be better represented and it also improved the overall balance of political power. Prior to the reform the Labour Party and the National party controlled the political regime, while now they mostly have to cooperate with smaller parties.

Together we talk about the major political events and developments prior to the reform and how many factors contributed to the reform movement and dynamics. In particular, direct democracy played an important role in pushing the political system forward in major steps. But also an educational campaign explaining the various suggested electoral systems gave the people the necessary knowledge to make a solid decision.

Jack Nagel is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences, where he studies democratic theory, voting systems, social choice, and political participation. He is the author of three books on representation, participation and the descriptive analysis of political power and many papers, including articles published in the American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and World Politics.

Show notes with a full transcript and links to all material discussed: https://rulesofthegame.blog/new-zealands-electoral-reform/

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:35 Personal questions / 06:21 Main discussion / 49:12 Recommendations by Jack Nagel

Find more of Jack Nagel's research on his website.

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Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Jack Nagel.