Parliament
Reforming Australia’s Senate means ensuring Indigenous people are represented
Before the 2016 federal election in July, Australia’s coalition government demonstrated a rare degree of collaboration with the Greens and passed changes to reform the electoral process for the Senate. Richard Reid explains the reform and its intentions – and its complete failure in the wake of Australia’s double dissolution election. He argues the debate about Senate reform should go […]
Now Indonesia has a sovereign wealth fund – and it won’t be the last
Little noticed by the wider world, Indonesia’s government recently announced details of the creation of one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the region. Juergen Braunstein and Arianne Caoili argue the coming years will see a new wave of sovereign wealth funds, especially in countries with large state-owned enterprises. The Fountain of Wealth, SunTec […]
Using technology to inject the demos back into democracy
Possibilities to ‘take action’ and participate in our current system may exist, but they are rarely effective.While individuals may be able to express their opinions, there is no mechanism in place for translating those opinions into action. In this light, Roslyn Fuller writes online deliberation allows us to take a leap towards much deeper democracy. Similar PostsBrexit […]
As both major parties struggle with internal divisions, it is crucial to engage with different facets of party cohesion
As both the Conservatives and Labour are confronted with ideological and organisational divisions that undermine their efficiency and jeopardise the foundations of the responsible party model, Caroline Close writes that understanding how (old and new) values, ideas and conception of democracy affect party members’ relationship to their party, within and beyond the legislative arena, is […]
Designing a new parliament with women in mind
Following the appointment of the UK’s second female Prime Minister, Jennifer Thomson assesses progress on gender equality in British politics. In particular, she considers how a restored and renewed Palace of Westminster could introduce changes to both the physical environment and political norms which could help address historical underrepresentation of women in Parliament. Similar PostsThis May be Tory feminism: […]
Should we just leave the selection of the party leader to MPs?
From 1922-1980, Labour leaders were elected by MPs in a secret ballot. While there are superficially attractive reasons for the increased trend towards democratising party leadership elections, Richard Johnson questions whether it has really given us better value and proposes that we should reconsider the merits of leaving party leadership selection to Labour MPs. More […]
The internal democracy dilemma: Balancing MP and member preferences in leadership selection
The resignations and leadership challenges in the wake of the Brexit vote have reignited debates around intra-party democracy. Tom Quinn offers an overview of the selection processes in the four main UK-wide parties and outlines both the challenge and importance of balancing MP and membership approval. Similar PostsHow democratic are the UK’s political parties and party […]
Towards a critical data science – the complicated relationship between data and the democratic project
What is driving the rise in data-driven techniques used by politicians and political campaigns to connect with the concerns and needs of citizens? Will a data-driven approach to political campaign messaging disrupt the “echo chamber” effect that is perceived to emerge within online spaces? Jo Bates finds the role of data science in the development of […]
The EU referendum and some paradoxes of democratic legitimacy
Referendums are potentially destabilising in parliamentary democracies because they generate alternative, competing sources of legitimacy, writes Nat le Roux. A majority of elected representatives may hold one view on a matter of national importance, and if a referendum demonstrates that a majority of the public hold the opposite view, which manifestation of democratic legitimacy should […]
Parliamentary arrangements after a Labour split might be easily solved, but bigger questions will be more difficult
In the post-referendum turmoil facing the Labour Party, there are increasing questions about whether the party might split. Despite shadow cabinet resignations and a Parliamentary Labour Party vote of no confidence, Jeremy Corbyn seems determined to hang on, and to force a contest if necessary. If that proceeds, a split looks very likely. But what […]
Democratic Audit's core funding is provided by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Additional funding is provided by the London School of Economics.