Individualized Representation in European Parliaments

Abstract

Recent research on parliaments indicates a renewed interest in the linkage functions of individual legislators in European parliaments. This panel welcomes contributions that focus on new methods and concepts to analyze the behaviors of individual legislators in their roles as representatives linking citizens and the state. Among others, this can include text-based analyses of parliamentary questions, speeches, or private member bills. This also can include research on constituency candidates on the campaign trail and their efforts to cultivate personal votes. The panel furthermore welcomes papers that focus on the conditions of individualized representation in European parliaments. It is especially interested in exploring the impact of electoral and party organizational sources and in disentangling their relative importance. Lastly, the panel welcomes contributions that might explore the effects of individualized forms of representation on party unity and legislative decision-making.