Why Electoral Integrity Matters

This book is the first in a planned trilogy by Pippa Norris on challenges of electoral integrity.

Pippa Norris (Author)

9781107052802, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 June 2014

312 pages, 29 b/w illus. 18 tables
23.5 x 15.6 x 2.2 cm, 0.54 kg

'… [this] book is theoretically sophisticated and provides a brilliant comparative account of the relationship between electoral integrity and democracy around the world. [It] will be immensely useful to students and scholars of political science and comparative political sociology.' Sarbeswar Sahoo, Democratization

This book is the first in a planned trilogy by Pippa Norris on challenges of electoral integrity to be published by Cambridge University Press. Unfortunately too often elections around the globe are deeply flawed or even fail. Why does this matter? It is widely suspected that such contests will undermine confidence in elected authorities, damage voting turnout, trigger protests, exacerbate conflict, and occasionally lead to regime change. Well-run elections, by themselves, are insufficient for successful transitions to democracy. But flawed, or even failed, contests are thought to wreck fragile progress. Is there good evidence for these claims? Under what circumstances do failed elections undermine legitimacy? With a global perspective, using new sources of data for mass and elite evidence, this book provides fresh insights into these major issues.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Theories why electoral integrity matters
2. Concepts
3. Evidence
Part II. The Problem of Flawed Elections: 4. International concern about electoral integrity
5. Public perceptions of electoral integrity
Part III. The Consequences of Electoral Integrity: 6. For legitimacy
7. For political behavior
8. For conflict and security
9. For regimes
Part IV. Conclusions: 10. Conclusions: strengthening electoral integrity.

Subject Areas: Elections & referenda [JPHF], Comparative politics [JPB], Sociology [JHB]