Anmerkungen:
Veröffentlichungsversion
begutachtet (peer reviewed)
In: Journal of Politics in Latin America ; 1 (2009) 2 ; 115-131
Beschreibung:
This research note considers the effects of electoral system reformin Bolivia. In 1995, Bolivia moved from a list-proportional to a mixedmemberproportional electoral system. The intervening years saw growingregional polarization of politics and a collapse of the existing party system.Using statistical analysis of disaggregated electoral data (at department, municipality, and district level), this paper tests whether electoral system reformsmay have contributed to the current political crisis. Research findingsshow that regional cleavages existed prior to electoral system reform, butsuggest that reforms aggravated their effects. Such evidence gives reason toquestion the recent popularity of mixed-member proportionality.