Advanced Introduction to Elections and Voting

Ian McAllister is one of the most distinguished political scientists today, who has devoted his academic life to researching and writing on elections and voting behaviour. This Advanced Introduction draws together his considerable expertise in this field to provide the definitive introduction to the subject, covering the context of elections, the significance of party loyalties, how citizens participate in elections, and the factors influencing the individual vote decision. -- David Farrell, University College Dublin, Ireland Ian McAllister uses his expert knowledge of voting and elections on three continents to provide a clear and useful guide to how elections are held, how parties compete, how voters respond and why elections matter for democracy. -- Professor Richard Rose, University of Strathclyde, UK and author of How Sick Is British Democracy? As global politics enters a new era of flux and innovation, this book offers an important and much needed anchor for current debates on the future of democracy. Ian McAllister has provided a compelling and comprehensive review of current knowledge on perennial questions about the electoral context shaping voter choices. -- Rachel Gibson, University of Manchester, UK Advanced Introduction to Elections and Voting provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on elections and voting. McAllister succinctly summarizes the main theories to explain elections and also provides pointers for those who want to read more. This excellent introduction will immediately get students who are new to the field up-to-speed with the relevant literature. -- Ruth Dassonneville, Universit de Montral, Canada

Ian McAllister, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, The Australian National University, Australia

Contents: Preface 1. Elections: the rules of the game 2. Parties and party systems 3. Party loyalties 4. Political participation 5. Social background 6. Class and economic interests 7. Issues and ideology 8. Leaders and the personalization of politics 9. Conclusion: elections and democracy References Index