Henk van der Kolk*

Neste artigo descreve-se e discute-se o amplo leque de sistemas eleitorais locais na Europa ocidental. Mostra-se que na Europa ocidental são utilizados muitos sistemas eleitorais diferentes. Em muitos países, estes sistemas eleitorais locais são distintos dos sistemas eleitorais utilizados nas eleições parlamentares nacionais. A questão que se põe é a de saber se os sistemas eleitorais locais têm alguma importância política. Exploram-se duas formas potenciais de responder a esta questão, mas os trabalhos de investigação realizados nesta área parecem muito raros. Isso significa que o debate sobre os prós e os contras dos sistemas eleitorais locais irá, provavelmente, continuar sem grande orientação por parte da investigação empírica. Argumenta-se que experiências cautelosas a nível local poderiam dar tanto aos políticos como aos cientistas políticos uma certa ideia sobre as consequências de se alterar o sistema eleitoral local.

Palavras-chave: Sistemas eleitorais locais, Europa Ocidental

Systèmes électoraux locaux en Europe occidentale

Cet article décrit et discute l’ample éventail des systèmes électoraux locaux en Europe occidentale et montre que nombreux sont ceux qui y sont différemment utilisés. Dans maints pays, ces systèmes électoraux locaux se distinguent des systèmes électoraux utilisés dans les élections parlementaires nationales. La question qui se pose est de savoir si les systèmes électoraux locaux possèdent quelque importance politique. Deux formes potentielles de répondre à la question sont explorées, mais les travaux de recherche effectués dans ce domaine semblent être très rares. Ce qui signifie que le débat sur les pour et les contre des systèmes électoraux locaux va probablement se poursuivre, mais peu orienté par la recherche empirique. L’argument est que des expériences précautionneuses au niveau local pourraient donner, tant aux politiciens qu’aux scientifiques politiques, une certaine idée sur les conséquences de modifier le système électoral local.

Local electoral systems in Western Europe

This article describes and discusses the wide range of local electoral systems in Western Europe. It is shown that there are many different local electoral systems used in Western Europe. In many countries these local electoral systems are not the same as the electoral system used in national parliamentary elections. The question is addressed whether local electoral systems matter. Two potential ways to answer this question are explored, but actual research along these lines appears to be very scarce. This means that the debate on the pro’s and con’s of local electoral systems will probably continue without much guidance from empirical research. It is argued that careful experiments at the local level might give both politicians and political scientists some insight in the consequences of changing the local electoral system.

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* Universidade de Twente.