The Punters' Guide to Democracy

This book discusses multiple ways of voting in a democratic system and explains the basis of more consensual politics. Without delving into too much technical argument or too many mathematical examples, it aims to

• show that binary decision-making is blunt, primitive, divisive, and sometimes inaccurate;
• prove that other methodologies are more accurate and, therefore, more democratic;
• highlight more inclusive and effective voting procedures;

• discuss electoral reforms for national parliaments and international forums like the UN Security Council and COP26/27.
  The book is written not just for academia, or for the politicians and journalists, or for other specialists; it is for the general public: for students still at school, for voters in society at large, and for activists in umpteen NGOs.

  the West's relentless pursuit of binary voting has been a cause of countless tragedies. This book is brilliant: political controversies should rarely if ever be 'resolved' by majority vote.

  Arend Lijphart, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of California, San Diego

  [for] those who do not believe in a black-or-white world a very important and extremely timely contribution

  Vra Stojarová, Associate Professor of Political Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

  Peter's challenge to the binary win-lose approach is urgently necessary, as is his proposal for an eminently more reasonable, accountable, and participatory system.

  Dr. Valery Perry, Democratization Policy Council, Sarajevo

  the preferential points vote would be the more accurate way to make decisions, and the consequences far more peaceful.

  Lord Boyce, House of Lords

  He builds a case for a specific version of preferential procedure, not only for elections, but for decision making as well.

  Hannu Nurmi, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Turku, Finland

  A particularly strong plea in favour of voting procedures which go far beyond the usual 'yes or no' ballots. [He uses] an alert prose and a wealth of illuminating and easily graspable examples.

  Maurice Salles, Emeritus Professor, Université de Caen Normandie

  Discusses the multiple ways of voting in a democratic system Shows that binary decision-making is blunt, primitive, divisive, and sometimes inaccurate Highlights the more inclusive and effective voting procedures

  Autorentext
  Peter Emerson is Director of the Belfast-based international NGO "The de Borda Institute" (Ireland). He has campaigned for inclusive governance since 1978. His publications include From Majority Rule to Inclusive Politics (Springer, 2016), Defining Democracy: Voting Procedures in Decision-Making, Elections and Governance (2nd ed. in 2012, Springer), Majority Voting as a Catalyst of Populism (Springer, 2020), and Designing an All-Inclusive Democracy: Consensual Voting Procedures for Use in Parliaments, Councils and Committees (Springer, 2007).

  Inhalt
  Chapter 1. AI, Artificial Incompetence The Ubiquitous Use of Binary Voting.- Chapter 2. Oh Lord, Give Me Consensus, but not Yet Pluralism is Possible.- Chapter 3. The Art and Science of Compromise.- Chapter 4. The GOAT is a GNU Electing an All-party Power-sharing Executive.- Chapter 5. The People Have Voted the [Expletives]! Comparing Electoral Systems.- Chapter 6. A Little Long History of Voting Systems.- Chapter 7. A Consensual Milieu.