Representation From Above: Members of Parliament and Representative Democracy in Sweden / Edition 1

by Peter Esaiasson, Sören Holmberg

Overview

This book uses Sweden as a test case to analyze how parliament and elected representatives function in a representative democracy. Despite the status of Scandinavian countries as perhaps the world’s most egalitarian societies, the book argues that the best summary characterization of Swedish representative democracy is an elitist system run from above. The book also argues that an individualist representational model is relevant to the Swedish setting and most likely, to other settings as well. Representative democracy is not just party-based democracy - not even in a country with strong and disciplined parties. The book takes a broad approach to the study of political representation. It integrates into a single analytical framework concepts and theories from neighbouring traditions such as legislative behaviour, opinion formation and interest organizations. The study is based on a comprehensive set of data, including three surveys of the Members of the Swedish Parliament, corresponding voter surveys and content analysis of mass media and parliamentary records.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781855217461
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/18/1996
Pages:	370
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.62(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter Esaiasson, Sören Holmberg

Table of Contents

Contents: The Puzzle of Representation: Looking for Political Representation. Representing the People: Who Gets There; Follow the Party; Representing Whom; Thinking Alike; Knowing the People. Persuading the People: On the Campaign Trail; Defining the Future. Deciding for the People: Power in Society; Who Decides in Parliament?; Power to the Parliamentarians; Teaming-Up with Other Elites; Networking; What Parliamentarians Do in Parliament. Carrying the Torch: The Not So Responsible Party Model.

Editorial Reviews

An analysis of how parliament and elected representatives function in a representative democracy, taking Sweden as a test case. Despite the extremely egalitarian nature of Swedish society, finds that the democratic system is highly elitist and run from above. Argues that an individualist representational model is applicable to Sweden and probably to other systems as well. Based on surveys of members of the Swedish parliament and voters, and mass media and parliamentary records. Distributed by Ashgate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

’...a comprehensive contribution to our understanding of how MPs in Sweden represent their constituents...the reader is presented with much useful information and interpretation about Swedish MPs.’ Party Politics ’...all in all, it is an extremely valuable book which, in challenging established analysis, deserves to be read by all those interested in comparative legislative studies.’ West European Politics

From the Publisher