Proportional representation in America? with Jack Santucci

Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions

Reforms of US electoral systems both at the local and national level would fundamentally change US politics. The two parties, that are a consequence of the single-seat plurality voting, fully control all democratic institutions. Only by making the electoral systems more proportional could outsider parties compete fairly against the Republican and Democratic party.

With Jack Santucci I discuss how electoral reform to introduce proportional representation (PR), for instance through open-list PR in multi-seat districts, could be an essential solution to the US political gridlock, making congressional elections more dynamic and leading to better representation. Jack has conducted some of the most comprehensive research on the history of US electoral reform, which is going to be published in his forthcoming book “More Parties or No Parties: The Politics of Electoral Reform in America” (Oxford University Press). The book lays out a 'shifting coalitions' theory of electoral reform, and analyzes a wave of ranked-ballot reforms in American cities during the Progressive Era and the New Deal.

Jack explains how the Democratic party could insulate itself against losing power through electoral reform. The window of opportunity may be short though. As the Republican party is increasingly controlled by politicians that disregard democratic principles, the perils of hardly contestable political offices become more real by the day. Also concerning is that many reform proposals would just not make congressional elections proportional enough to disrupt the two-party impasse.

Jack Santucci is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Politics at Drexel University. He got his PhD in Political Science from Georgetown University. During the academic year 2017-8, he was a Research Fellow at the Democracy Fund. Before graduate school, he worked at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the Campaign Finance Institute, FairVote, Café Bonaparte, and a congressional district office.

Find the show notes with links to all material discussed here: https://rulesofthegame.blog/proportional-representation-in-america/

Follow Jack Santucci's research on his website: https://www.jacksantucci.com and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacksantucci

Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation with Jack Santucci.