Passages to Power: Legislative Recruitment in Advanced Democracies

Description

Recruitment to legislative office is one of the core functions of political systems, yet we know little about how the process varies from one country to another. Passages to Power provides a comparative account of legislative recruitment which applies a common analytical framework and new survey data to nineteen advanced democracies. Legislative recruitment refers to the critical step as people move from lower levels of politics into parliamentary careers. Who succeeds in becoming a politician? Who fails? And why? Based on original research which adopts a 'new institutionalist' perspective, this book compares these issues in a wide range of countries. This important new study brings together an outstanding group of international scholars to look at recruitment around the world. The countries examined in depth include Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with a comparison of all member states in the European Union.

" Passages to Power provides insight into legislative recruitment in particular and democracy in general. ...this book offers a timely tool for scholars to grasp not only the idea of democracy, but the process of democracy as well." Mitchell F. Fuller, LSS Newsletter "Each of the chapters stands on its own in providing a comprehensive analysis of the recrutiment process in the selected countries. In this respect, the book will be of interest to country and area specialists, to students of political parties and electoral "Each of the chapters stands on its own in providing a comprehensive analysis of the recruitment process in the selected countries. In this respect, the book will be of interest to country and area specialists, to students of political parties and electoral institutions, and to those interested in the social and political stratification of advanced industrial societies. ...it is neverthelessa landmark in the development of collaborative approaches to political recruitment." Linda L. Fowler, American Journal of Sociology