npub1g0tuf634rz4suczwj7kgnecr6cyt0eu9xmp3sp0fku68mqehq4msp3tvm4 (npub1g0t…tvm4) I think it's a mistake - albeit a common one - to imagine that electoral reform can be used as a tool to inhibit certain parties or ideologies. If people want to vote for the far right, or any other political position, then they will do so.
The far right can only be defeated by persuasion, by actively trying to stop people believing in them. It's difficult, but it's all we have; if we seek to create systemic obstacles it only increases their conspiratorial arguments, ultimately leading to their support being enough to overcome those obstacles (as has happened with AfD in Germany).
Yes, the design of the system can help limit the impact of the far right when they have support. Consider, for instance, how Smer in Slovakia have been forced to form a government with parties much further to the left because they didn't get enough votes to run a populist right government (as may happen in the Netherlands). Or how in Spain, the scale of opposition to Vox has actually led to the conservative PP being unable to form a government.
However, look at Hungary, which has a mixed member voting system. It should be proportional. But a combination of gerrymandering and media domination has led to it being as disproportional as FPTP, allowing Fidesz to enjoy huge Parliamentary majorities without comparable vote shares. In Italy, the far right are currently looking to make changes that will have a similar result, albeit through different systems.
Consequently, I would argue that, in terms of limiting the practical power of extremists, constitutional guardrails are far more important than the electoral system itself - and notably, we have very little of that in the UK. If we reform the electoral system whilst still relying on the 'good chap' principle to protect us from authoritarianism, then we're screwed.
Ultimately, I continue to stand by what I've always said, in decades of pushing for electoral reform: the only reason to support electoral reform is because it's the right thing to do, because if you believe in democracy then you should want everyone to have full and equal democratic rights.
RolloTreadway /
npub196…cpqzp
2023-11-25 09:37:38
in reply to nevent1q…td9v
Author Public Key
npub196rh2q8z4n6wysl06l0rwnzqa9hpgk0rylrtkn8egd6pa5qvtf3srcpqzpPublished at
2023-11-25 09:37:38Event JSON
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"content": "nostr:npub1g0tuf634rz4suczwj7kgnecr6cyt0eu9xmp3sp0fku68mqehq4msp3tvm4 I think it's a mistake - albeit a common one - to imagine that electoral reform can be used as a tool to inhibit certain parties or ideologies. If people want to vote for the far right, or any other political position, then they will do so.\n\nThe far right can only be defeated by persuasion, by actively trying to stop people believing in them. It's difficult, but it's all we have; if we seek to create systemic obstacles it only increases their conspiratorial arguments, ultimately leading to their support being enough to overcome those obstacles (as has happened with AfD in Germany).\n\nYes, the design of the system can help limit the impact of the far right when they have support. Consider, for instance, how Smer in Slovakia have been forced to form a government with parties much further to the left because they didn't get enough votes to run a populist right government (as may happen in the Netherlands). Or how in Spain, the scale of opposition to Vox has actually led to the conservative PP being unable to form a government.\n\nHowever, look at Hungary, which has a mixed member voting system. It should be proportional. But a combination of gerrymandering and media domination has led to it being as disproportional as FPTP, allowing Fidesz to enjoy huge Parliamentary majorities without comparable vote shares. In Italy, the far right are currently looking to make changes that will have a similar result, albeit through different systems.\n\nConsequently, I would argue that, in terms of limiting the practical power of extremists, constitutional guardrails are far more important than the electoral system itself - and notably, we have very little of that in the UK. If we reform the electoral system whilst still relying on the 'good chap' principle to protect us from authoritarianism, then we're screwed.\n\nUltimately, I continue to stand by what I've always said, in decades of pushing for electoral reform: the only reason to support electoral reform is because it's the right thing to do, because if you believe in democracy then you should want everyone to have full and equal democratic rights.",
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