This paper describes and compares the parliamentary electoral systems of two successor states of Yugoslavia: Slovenia in the very North of the former federation and (North) Macedonia in the very South. Surprisingly, this comparison is rarely done, although both states have in common a relatively similar size and number of populations of around two million inhabitants.
This semester paper portrays that the design of an electoral system and historic legacies are important for a (transitional) democracy, but only till a certain, limited extent. Apart from relatively similar electoral systems in the here portrayed cases, the international and domestic as well as qualitative and quantitative studies showed, that political culture and how citizens and politicians are acting in a (democratic) states are also and probably more important than the design of an electoral system. Also, the EU integration process, lively EU membership and economic development could have an influence on functionality of transitional democracies. Especially, the differing partisanship culture is an interesting field of active citizenship behavior.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Description of the Electoral Systems in Slovenia and (North) Macedonia
- Comparison of differing results of both systems.
- Number of party lists after national parliamentary elections
- International indexes valuing the performance of the democracies.
- Domestic satisfaction with the respective political systems.
- Summery and Outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to describe and compare the parliamentary electoral systems of Slovenia and (North) Macedonia, two successor states of Yugoslavia, focusing on their similarities and differences despite their relatively similar sizes and populations. The analysis will explore the evolution of their electoral systems, the results of these systems, and the implications for democratic stability and citizen satisfaction.
- Comparison of the proportional representation electoral systems in Slovenia and (North) Macedonia.
- Analysis of the impact of electoral systems on party fragmentation and political stability.
- Assessment of the performance of both democracies based on international indices.
- Examination of citizen satisfaction with the political systems in both countries.
- Exploration of the reasons behind the observed differences in electoral outcomes and democratic performance.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces the topic of comparing the parliamentary electoral systems of Slovenia and (North) Macedonia. Highlights the historical context, similarities, and differences between the two countries, including their economic development, EU membership status, and ethnic divisions. Briefly outlines the structure and focus of the paper.
- Description of the Electoral Systems in Slovenia and (North) Macedonia: Provides a detailed description of the proportional representation (PR) electoral systems used in both countries. Highlights the similarities and differences in terms of the number of seats in parliament, constituencies, thresholds, representation of minorities, and open versus closed party lists. Also discusses the evolution of electoral systems in both countries, particularly in Macedonia.
- Comparison of differing results of both systems: Explores the different outcomes of the electoral systems in Slovenia and (North) Macedonia. Analyzes the number of party lists entering parliament, the performance of their democracies according to international indices, and citizen satisfaction with their political systems. This chapter will demonstrate the variations in political stability, democratic performance, and citizen engagement between the two countries, despite having similar electoral systems.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the parliamentary electoral systems of Slovenia and (North) Macedonia, including proportional representation, party fragmentation, political stability, democratic performance, international indices, citizen satisfaction, and ethnic divisions. The analysis draws on the experiences of both countries as successor states of Yugoslavia and explores the impact of their respective electoral systems on democratic development.
- Quote paper
- Carlo Hohnstedter (Author), 2021, Electoral Systems in Slovenia and (North) Macedonia. A Comparison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1259013
