Representing the People’s Perspectives: A Justification for the Formalization of Descriptive Respresentation
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2023-07-04
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en
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In recent years, more emphasis has been put on diversifying representative political institutions. Movements have emerged to argue for better inclusion in politics, as representative political institutions are supposed to represent the entire population. However, formal institutionalisation of descriptive representation has mostly stayed absent from the debate. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the justification for the formalisation of descriptive representation within the larger concept of political representation. First, a framework for the use of the concept of political representation is discussed. Hanna Pitkin’s (1967) theory on political representation is used as a starting point for the discussion. This theory is complemented by the ideas of the constructivist turn in political representation. Next, the normative justification for the implementation of descriptive representation for the creation of political and social equality will be established. With this justification in mind, different measures for implementing descriptive representation will be assessed based on good descriptive representation, after which the measures will be assessed by the formalistic and substantive concepts of representation. I will conclude that a combination of an output-based quota and a procedural quota is a sufficient measure for the inclusion of descriptive representation in the entirety of political representation. Finally, I will argue that deliberative democracy is a valuable addition to the electoral quotas.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen