Schedule:
00:00 Introduction
03:37 Personal questions
06:34 Main discussion
31:57 The Reform
52:09 Recommendations by Armin Schäfer.
Summary:
With Armin Schäfer I discuss Germany’s mixed member proportional electoral system and its current reform. We compare the old and the prospective new electoral system, and we explore what the most important and the most controversial changes are. Armin Schäfer shares not only historical context of the character of Germany’s political system but also his opinions on the reform process.
Important to mention is that just a few days ago, at the end of July, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany ruled that electoral law passed by the German parliament in March 2023 is, in principle, in accordance with the Basic Law. However, the basic mandate clause, which was supposed to be abolished, must remain in place. This is especially important for smaller parties with strong regional representation that fail to cross the 5% electoral threshold that is also in place.
I recorded this discussion with Armin Schäfer before the ruling of the Constitutional Court. This means that while the arguments we make are absolutely relevant and valid, we were not able to anticipate the timing or outcome of the court ruling.
Armin Schäfer is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Mainz in Germany, with his research interests at the intersection of comparative political economy, democracy research and political theory. His recent research agenda focused on the interplay of social and political inequality, voter turnout, representation and responsiveness. Between 2018 and 2021 Armin Schäfer was head of the German Political Science Association (DVPW).
References to books, papers, and other contributions:
Armin Schäfer’s Website
Armin Schäfer on X
The Concept of Representation by Hanna F. Pitkin, 1972, University of California Press
Democracy and Its Critics by Robert A. Dahl, 2008, Yale University Press
Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America by Martin Gilens, 2014, Princeton University Press
Related Episodes:
Episode 16: Beyond Presidentialism and Parliamentarism with Steffen Ganghof
Episode 31: Let the People Rule with John Matsusaka
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