Jesper Lindqvist
Politically active people — including protesters and those engaging outside elections — are better represented than inactive citizens, write Jesper Lindqvist, Jennifer Oser, Ruth Dassonneville, Mikael Persson, and Anders Sundell. Images of placard-wielding protesters are a common feature in global media reporting. But do they affect policy outcomes any better than inactive people? Read more
Annamária Sebestyén
In countries experiencing democratic backsliding, opposition MPs must confront not only the crisis of political representation but also structural constraints that limit their influence. Drawing on research in Hungary, Annamária Sebestyén argues that in such circumstances opposition MPs develop innovative strategies to remain politically relevant, but these have clear limits Read more
Chris Butler
Politicians need to have a good understanding of which issues matters most to voters. Chris Butler reports from a recent survey of politicians that reveals that while they have a reasonable understanding of which issues matter, there are also common reasons why they make mistakes that have consequences for representation Read more
Mebratu Kelecha
Democracy in Africa is at a crossroads. While regimes do hold elections, many still fail to deliver on their democratic promises. Mebratu Kelecha argues for a non-adversarial form of democracy inspired by Africa's rich Indigenous Gada system, which emphasises inclusivity, consensus-building, and cooperation Read more
The Loop
Cutting-edge analysis showcasing the work of the political science discipline at its best.
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