Unelected Representatives and Representative Claims; Opening up for New Developments in the Construction of Political Representation

Abstract

The constructivist approach to representation has brought about significant advancements in our understanding of how representation is constructed and how it functions in democratic systems. This panel aims to bring together high quality and innovative empirical and theoretical work related to the constructivist turn in representation, with a focus on representative claims and unelected representatives. We welcome any new perspectives on the construction of representation and encourage papers that are interdisciplinary, yet relevant to a broader political science audience. Panelists will delve into the effects and content of representative claims, as well as the psychological and communicative processes at play in the construction of representation. The panel will also consider the democratic implications of these developments and findings, exploring how they may impact the functioning of democratic systems and the relationships between representatives and the public. This panel will be of interest to scholars interested in political representation, psychology, and communication, as well as anyone interested in contemporary debates about representation and democracy. It will provide a forum for discussing the latest research on these topics and for generating new insights and directions for future research.

Title	Details
Politicians’ claims of representation and its relation to feeling represented	View Paper Details
Shared Political Experiences: Ethnic Minority Citizens’ Evaluations of Descriptive Representation in Germany and the Netherlands	View Paper Details
Motivation, Representation, Authorization: How Activists and Celebrities become Unelected Representatives	View Paper Details
The affective turn in the construction of representation	View Paper Details