A Synopsis of the Book Electoral Systems

M C Raj The Book Electoral Reforms has three major sections Section 1 deals with the evolution of Democracy. It takes a critical look on the way democracy developed from the period of Enlightenment starting from 16 Century and has led to modern and postmodern democratic governance. It also looks at the way Indian democracy and nationalism evolved from 1906. Section 2 deals with the way electoral systems are designed in different representative democracies in the world. This section exposes both the advantages and disadvantages of the Majoritarian Electoral System, especially one of its variants the First Past The Post electoral system (FPTP). It deals elaborately with the application of FPTP in India. In the second part of Section 2 the book deals with Proportional Representation System and its variants. Section 3 deals with an India specific Proportional Representation system. Along with Section 2 it is a more of a technical section. However, keeping the readers who are not used to electoral systems, it also explains well the technical dimensions. Chapter 1 It is all about the way democracy evolved from the period of enlightenment to modern and postmodern periods. The main focus of the section is to see how governance has become exclusive in some contexts and inclusive in some other contexts. Who has advantage and disadvantage of inclusive governance and exclusive governance are elaborated upon. Chapter 2 This chapter gives a technical explanation of different types of democracies prevalent in different countries and also links it up with Globalization as an overarching reality of postmodern democracy. Chapter 3 This chapter is about the way Indian democracy developed especially from 1906. It gives a scientific analysis of the two types of nationalism that developed in India through the period of independence till today. The two nationalisms are Cultural Nationalism and Political Nationalism.

Chapter 4 It deals with Majoritarian Electoral System. It exposes the Advantages and disadvantages of First Past The Post (FPTP) electoral system. It also gives a scientific and technical explanation of the different types of Majoritarian Electoral System. The Chapter ends with technical details of Semi-Proportional representation system. Chapter 5 This is a chapter on Proportional Representation system. It moves on to explain the advantages and general misgivings on PR system. The chapter further proceeds to technical details of PR system such as party list system, counting methods, threshold, two votes system, electoral quota etc. It also deals with the variants of PR system. Chapter 6 This is all about the present electoral system (FPTP) as it is being practiced in India. It gives an analysis of the difficulties India is facing with FPTP and moves are identify certain critical issues within the governance of India. Then the chapter gives a projection for a possible alternative electoral system for India. Chapter 7 This chapter can be said to be unique and the most important one for India. It has developed an India specific PR system. Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system for India is apt with two votes and closed list. All the possible technical dimensions of MMP for India are given in an explanatory way to make understanding easy by Indian and international readers who are not used to electoral systems. Chapter 8 The Constituent Assembly discussions on PR system and different efforts that have been made in India towards PR system are brought out. Chapter 9 This is a simple chapter on the evolution of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI) initiated by the author. Chapter 10 The National Law Commission of India submitted its report on electoral reforms to Indian Parliament in 1999. It has strongly

recommended PR system for India. Excerpts from this Report are taken for the information of readers. Only those aspects that deal with PR system recommendations are taken to the readers in this chapter.

Chapter 11 This is another crucial chapter that concludes the book with different electoral models of PR system in five countries where the author took up the research. These countries are Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Nepal and the Netherlands. The book has a section of references and another section of glossary.