Why Elections Fail

Description

Too often, elections around the globe are, unfortunately, deeply flawed or even fail. What triggers these problems? In this second volume of her trilogy on electoral integrity, Pippa Norris compares structural, international, and institutional accounts as alternative perspectives to explain why elections fail to meet international standards. The book argues that rules preventing political actors from manipulating electoral governance are needed to secure integrity, although at the same time officials also need sufficient resources and capacities to manage elections effectively. Drawing on new evidence, the study determines the most effective types of strategies for strengthening the quality of electoral governance around the world. With a global perspective, this book provides fresh insights into these major issues at the heart of the study of elections and voting behavior, comparative politics, democracy and democratization, political culture, democratic governance, public policymaking, development, international relations and conflict studies, and processes of regime change.

Pippa Norris is the McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Laureate Fellow and Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. She directs the Electoral integrity project (www.electoralintegrityproject.com). Her work compares democracy and democratization, elections and public opinion, gender politics and political communications. Recent companion volumes by this award-winning author include Driving Democracy (2008), Cosmopolitan Communications (2009), Democratic Deficit (2011), Making Democratic Governance Work (2012) and Why Electoral Integrity Matters (2014). Her work has been recognized by several major international awards, including the Johan Skytte Prize, the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate and the Karl Deutsch prize.