With Colin Cole I discuss the work of More Equitable Democracy, a racial justice organization to advance racial equity by transforming electoral systems. As the US electoral systems are almost exclusively built as winner-take-all elections that serve only the two parties in power, they don’t deliver fair representation. But how can more minorities’ representatives be elected into state parliaments, city councils and finally the US Congress? Colin shares with us some of the key historical events ...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 46
With Friedrich Pukelsheim I discuss double proportional representation. Since 2006 the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland uses double proportionality to elect its 180 members of parliament. Friedrich Pukelsheim was invited to design an electoral system that would deliver on the promise of overall proportional representation in the canton while keeping the existing electoral districts since they are meaningful social and geographic entities. The complication is that some of these districts are very ...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 45
With Degan Ali I discuss the system of international aid based on her inside experience of working in the sector for over two decades. She speaks truth to power and that really takes some bravery to do, and I honor that. Degan Ali shares many compelling stories from her home country Somalia, but also from several years of growing up and studying in the US. She explains how local agricultural markets were destroyed by foreign interference and how the Somali government is at the whim of foreign do...
Aug 25, 2024•47 min•Ep. 44
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 2024, the Federal Constitutional Court of Ge...
Aug 09, 2024•55 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 42 on Democracy for Busy People, a discussion I had with Kevin Elliott. My three takeaways from episode 42: 0:42 It’s important to include busy people in democracy. 3:55 Political parties and political competition are crucial. The better parliaments represent the people’s interests, the more democratic our political systems. 6:00 We should dare to fundamentally question our current institutions and think about unconventional pr...
May 09, 2024•9 min
With Kevin Elliott I discuss how democracy could be built for busy people based on his new book Democracy for Busy People , published in 2023 by the University of Chicago Press. I had a fascinating conversation with Kevin Elliott about his inspiration for writing the book, in which he takes the viewpoint of busy individuals who scarcely have the time to delve into lengthy parliamentary debates, participate in citizens' assemblies, or cast votes on numerous initiatives and referendums. Essentiall...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 42
In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 41 on direct democracy in Latin America, a discussion I had with Yanina Welp. My three takeaways from episode 41: 0:50 Direct democracy is a powerful democratic institution. 2:41 Authoritarian regimes may use "the will of the people" to consolidate power. 7:14 The devil is in the details. Find the show notes with full transcript here . Listen to episode 41 and find the show notes here . Yanina Welp's research website Rel...
Apr 15, 2024•10 min
With Yanina Welp I discuss different ways of how direct democratic institutions have been applied in Latin American countries – both in fundamentally democratizing processes but also power grabbing incidents. In particular, we talk about the cases of Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela, based on Yanina’s extensive research and deep knowledge. Yanina also shares her insights on how direct democracy can be a check on the power of the executive and legislative branches of government. And...
Jun 28, 2023•50 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 40 on the Citizens' Chamber in the Canton of Vaud, a discussion I had with Rodan Bury and Charly Pache. My three takeaways from episode 40: 0:45 Designing complementary institutions 4:55 Citizens’ Chamber & direct democracy 8:56 Improving existing institutions Find the show notes with full transcript here . Listen to episode 40 and find the show notes here . Letter from Switzerland: Where the People have the Veto Related ep...
May 30, 2023•12 min
With Rodan Bury and Charly Pache I discuss their initiative to inaugurate a Citizens’ Chamber in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The idea of the citizens’ chamber is to complement the existing unicameral parliament with topic-specific citizens’ assemblies, for which members are selected by sortition. Rather than being a permanent chamber of the same citizens, the proposed citizens’ chamber consists of a number of citizens’ assemblies that would convene for several months to deliberate and leg...
Apr 28, 2023•51 min•Ep. 40
Rules in Perspective is a new segment on the Rules of the Game channel. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes. In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 39 on Fixing the House with Proportional Representation with Lee Drutman. My 3 takeaways from episode 39: John Adams' Nightmare Electoral reform is an uphill battle, but worth it. Electoral reform from below. Find the show notes and full transcript here . Listen to episode 39 and find th...
Apr 14, 2023•9 min
With Lee Drutman I discuss how proportional representation can break the two-party doom-loop that is spiraling in the U.S. Lee co-founded the organization “Fix Our House” with Charlotte Hill and Eli Zupnick, that specifically campaigns for proportional representation for the U.S. House of Representatives. We spend less time talking about the problems of the outdated first-past-the-post system, yet more time on possible solutions. Lee’s favored electoral system is open-list proportional represent...
Mar 30, 2023•44 min•Ep. 39
Rules in Perspective is a new segment on the Rules of the Game channel. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes. In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 38 on Political Institutions of Kuwait with Luai Allarakia. My three takeaways: Re-read the constitution Procedural rules matter too Political parties are important Listen to episode 38 and find the show notes here . Find a full transcript here . Find more information on the role of politi...
Mar 27, 2023•9 min
With Luai Allarakia I discuss Kuwait’s political system and institutions. He lays out the most important developments since its constitution was written in 1962, and how Kuwait – a country of 4.3 million people – tries to manage its political trajectory between presidentialism and parliamentarism. It is following its own path, that is led by a hereditary monarch, the emir of Kuwait. While a lot of power is concentrated in the emir, who can appoint the prime minister, the National Assembly of Kuw...
Mar 05, 2023•58 min•Ep. 38
Rules in Perspective is a new segment on Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes. In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 37 on Advancing Proportional Representation in Canada with Réal Lavergne . My three takeaways : Broken promises Lost referendums Citizens’ assemblies as a reform strategy Listen to episode 37 and find the show notes here . Find more information about Fair Vote Cana...
Feb 25, 2023•9 min
The story of proportional representation in Canada is one of great hopes, changes in reform strategies, but also – unfortunately – many broken promises. So the country is still stuck with the outdated first-past-the-post electoral system at all levels of government. With Réal Lavergne I discuss the efforts of Fair Vote Canada to push for electoral reform. He shares the frustrations and problems that come with the first-past-the-post electoral system and how Fair Vote Canada tries to bring change...
Feb 16, 2023•39 min•Ep. 37
Rules in Perspective is a new segment on Rules of the Game – discussing democratic institutions. In this new segment I review and comment on my own podcast episodes. In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 36 on Current Developments of Direct Democracy in Germany with Jan Renner. My three takeaways: On the people's initiative in Bavaria On citizens' assemblies and direct democracy On the history of direct democracy in Germany Listen to episode 36 and find the show no...
Feb 14, 2023•13 min
With Jan Renner I discuss current developments of direct democracy in Germany, and especially in Bavaria, his home state. Bavaria is the most advanced German federal state when it comes to direct democracy. Jan explains the specific direct democratic tools that are available and how Mehr Demokratie, the organization he works for, tries to change the rules of direct democracy to make citizen participation and decision making easier and better. He shares with us the strategies they pursue and obst...
Feb 07, 2023•52 min•Ep. 36
Women in Brazil have consistently been underrepresented in politics. What are the reasons for this lack of women’s political power in this vast democracy? How do formal and informal institutions hinder fair representation of women? How could the political system be changed to reflect the true interest and character of Brazilian society? With Larissa Peixoto Gomes I discuss Brazilian democratic institutions from a feminist perspective. Based on her research and personal experiences, she shares wi...
Jan 25, 2023•52 min•Ep. 35
With Arend Lijphart I discuss some of the fundamental questions regarding democratic institutions based on his seminal book “Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries”, that he first published in 1999 and then updated in 2012. The book contrasts majoritarian and consensus models of democracy. It teaches a lot about democratic institutions and it greatly increased my own knowledge when I first read it during my studies. While the book has, of course, received...
Dec 06, 2022•47 min•Ep. 34
With Idayat Hassan I discuss the state of democracies in West Africa. She is the Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an organization that is advocating for democratic reforms across the West African Region, and based in Abuja, Nigeria. The organization was founded in 1997 in London by Nigerians in Exile when Nigeria was still under military rule. But it relocated to Lagos when Nigeria made the important transition to a democratic regime in 1999. It has remained a bridge b...
Nov 12, 2022•42 min•Ep. 33
With Wietse Van Ransbeeck I discuss citizen participation at the local government level. Wietse was discouraged by the existing possibilities to participate in local political processes in his home town in Belgium, and he didn’t want to become a politician. So he founded CitizenLab that provides digital tools and services for local governments that want to integrate the citizens’ opinions and knowledge in local policies. Digitalization is substantially lowering the costs for citizens to have the...
Oct 27, 2022•44 min•Ep. 32
With John Matsusaka I discuss direct democracy, based on his latest book “Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge”, that he published with the Princeton University Press in 2020. Many people feel disconnected from politics. Direct democracy is a powerful democratic institution that can reconnect people with political processes and give them actual political power. Together we discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of direct democracy, and – based on his extensiv...
Oct 18, 2022•46 min•Ep. 31
New Zealand’s electoral reform of 1996 is an important case to know and understand for anyone interested in institutional change. With Jack Nagel I discuss how New Zealand moved from a Westminster type first-past-the-post system to a mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system, that we find in Germany for instance. The reform changed not only the character of its parliament but also of its governments. The reform has allowed smaller parties to be better represented and it also improved...
Sep 29, 2022•52 min•Ep. 30
With Tarunabh Khaitan I discuss “Moderated Parliamentarism”, a concept of a system of government that he describes in great detail in a paper titled “Balancing Accountability and Effectiveness: A Case for Moderated Parliamentarism”. It seeks to combine the most attractive elements of different regime types and electoral systems – checks and balances from presidentialism, continuous confidence of the political executive from parliamentarism, preventing factions through majoritarian electoral syst...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 29
Women occupy only 24% of seats in the U.S. Senate, and 28% of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Only 18% of governors are women, and there has never been a female US president as we all know. With Cynthia Richie Terrell I discuss the representation of women in politics. She is the Executive Director and Founder of RepresentWomen , an organization that pushes for parity of women in U.S. politics. The organization started as Representation2020, a program of the non-partisan reform group ...
Sep 02, 2022•49 min•Ep. 28
Since Hugo Chávez came to power in the presidential election in 1998, Venezuela has experienced a staggering democratic erosion, with increasing levels of repression. As soon as Chávez assumed office, he initiated the writing of a new constitution through a controversial process that was approved by citizens in two referendums, yet with very low turnout. With Maryhen Jiménez I discuss how Venezuela transitioned from a weak democratic system in the 1990s to an authoritarian regime. She walks us n...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 27
Turkey has experienced a severe erosion of democratic principles. Democratic institutions have been changed, the media heavily influenced and controlled by government forces, and opposition politicians are intimidated and persecuted. With Esra İşsever-Ekinci I discuss Turkey's democratic backsliding. She explains what steps the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) took to secure their power grab. Changing the democratic institutions was an essential part of preserving power, so that now...
Jul 02, 2022•43 min•Ep. 26
Brazil’s democratic journey has been one of great hopes and progress, yet also one of disappointments and distrust in democratic institutions. Brazil is a vast country of 214 million people, organized in a federation of 26 states and the Federal District of Brasilia. Using a bicameral system, the Chamber of Deputies represents the people, while the Senate represents the states. The president is elected in a two-round electoral system. With José Antonio Cheibub I discuss some of the principal dem...
Jun 18, 2022•47 min•Ep. 25
The two-round presidential elections in France back in April created lots of discussions in the media and widespread concerns that a right-wing candidate, Marine Le Pen, would rise to power. Yet, Emmanuel Macron prevailed in the second round with 58% of the vote. Very soon, on June 12th and 19th, voters in France are going to the polls to elect the 577 members of the National Assembly. With Emiliano Grossman I discuss the electoral systems used in the French democracy, both for the presidential ...
Jun 01, 2022•51 min•Ep. 24
