Citizens living in presidential or parliamentary systems face different political choices as do voters casting votes in elections governed by rules of proportional representation or plurality. Political commentators seem to know how such rules influence political behaviour. They firmly believe, for example, that candidates running in plurality systems are better known and held more accountable to their constituencies than candidates competing in elections governed by proportional representation. However, such assertions rest on shaky ground simply because solid empirical knowledge to evaluate the impact of political institutions on individual political behaviour is still lacking. The Comparative Study of Electoral Systems has collected data on political institutions and on individual political behaviour and scrutinized it carefully. In line with common wisdom results of most analyses presented in this volume confirm that political institutions matter for individual political behaviour but, contrary to what is widely believed, they do not matter much.

The Comparative Study of Electoral Systems systematically deals with the question of the impact of institutions on political behaviour. It provides comparative data on the micro- and the macro-level to study electoral behaviour empirically across a broad range of institutional contexts.

A collaborative program of research among election study teams from around the world. Participating countries include a common module of survey questions in their post-election studies.

This comparative study of electoral procedures, trends, and key issues is the first to deal with the representation of women and minorities around the world. Wilma Rule and Joseph Zimmerman have brought together an international team of scholars who show why there is gross underrepresentation of women and minorities internationally and who analyze the cultural, socio-economic, and political barriers to their future electoral successes. The scholars describe the current situation in 20 countries in various regions and point to ways for women and minorities to enhance positions politically. This text is intended for courses in comparative politics, political parties and elections, women in politics, and minority politics.

Political Parties and Democratic Linkage examines how political parties ensure the functioning of the democratic process in contemporary societies. Based on unprecedented cross-national data, the authors find that the process of party government is still alive and well in most contemporary democracies.

Presents the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), a collaborative program that involves research about election studies conducted over fifty consolidated and emerging democracies. States the goals of the Study and explains the preliminary planning. Provides information about meetings and lists the CSES collaborators. Offers access to reports and pilot studies. Notes that the Study is part of the Center for Political Studies of the Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Posts contact information for the secretariat via mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail.