Comparing the Representativeness of Parliaments

Abstract

The responsiveness of parliaments to their constituencies is one aspect of their representativeness. It can be measured with data on how members of parliaments conceptualize their constituencies, the extent of their communication with their constituents, and their receptivity to their constituents' views. There is less variation among members of the same parliament in these respects than there is between members of six different parliaments: those of Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, Korea, and Turkey. These parliaments can be classified as exhibiting participatory, elitist, parochial, or limited representativeness. Systemic variables appear to explain these differences in representativeness, which may in turn affect the way in which these parliaments cope with social conflict.