The Duverger Equilibrium as Checked under the Conditions of Limited Competition: the 2003 Duma Elections

The Duverger Equilibrium as Checked under the Conditions of Limited Competition: the 2003 Duma Elections




DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2005.01.11

For citation:

Liechtenstein A.V., Yargomskaya N.B. The Duverger Equilibrium as Checked under the Conditions of Limited Competition: the 2003 Duma Elections . – Polis. Political Studies. 2005. No. 1. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2005.01.11



Abstract

In the Russian context, the effect of the plural formula on electoral competition poorly correlates with the regularities inferred by Duverger from the experience of stable democracies. Having been applied over three electoral cycles (the elections of 1995, 1999, 2003), it generated neither a tendency to bi-partisanship at the nationwide level, nor a bi-polar format of candidates’ competition in districts. In the article, an attempt has been made to determine the character of interdependence of the “district” and the nationwide levels of competition, and the causes of the deviation of the Russian case from the Duverger law. It is the parliamentary elections of 1999 to 2003 that are embraced by the field of analysis. While focusing their attention mainly on studying the competition format transformation tendencies in the districts, the authors have attempted to retrace the logic of the impact of both the “district” and the nationwide mechanical and psychological effects and to explain the results of their superposition that have revealed themselves in Russia.


Content No. 1, 2005

See also:


Durdin D.M.,
The “Image” of a Political Leader and Possibilities of Changing It. – Polis. Political Studies. 2000. No2

Glubotzky A.Yu., Kynev A.V.,
The Party Component of the Russian Regions’ Legislative Assemblies. – Polis. Political Studies. 2003. No6

Tolpygo A.K.,
The Reds in the Ukraine. – Polis. Political Studies. 1999. No4

Gaman-Golutvina O.V.,
Russia’ Regional Elites: Whom They Consist of, and What Are the Tendencies of Their Evolution (I). – Polis. Political Studies. 2004. No2

Okhrimenko V.S.,
The Presidential Election in Byelams: As Viewed from 1997. – Polis. Political Studies. 1997. No6


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