Minority Representation, Empowerment, and Participation
Authors: Banducci, Susan A.; Donovan, Todd; Karp, Jeffrey A.
Source: The Journal of Politics, Volume 66, Number 2, May 2004 , pp. 534-556(23)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content
Abstract:
According to the minority empowerment thesis, minority representation strengthens representational links, fosters more positive attitudes toward government, and encourages political participation. We examine this theory from a cross-national perspective, making use of surveys that sampled minorities in the United States and New Zealand. Both countries incorporate structures into their electoral systems that make it possible for minority groups to elect representatives of their choice. We find that in both countries descriptive representation matters: it increases knowledge about and contact with representatives in the U.S. and leads to more positive evaluations of governmental responsiveness and increased electoral participation in New Zealand. These findings have broad implications for debates about minority representation.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2508.2004.00163.x
Key:
- Free Content
- New Content
- Subscribed Content
- Free Trial Content

Click here for Page Help