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Duverger's Law is Wrong But...

Comparative Politics
Elections
Political Competition
Political Parties
André Blais
Université de Montréal
André Blais
Université de Montréal
Maurice Duverger (1917-2014): Evaluating the Contributions of a Political Science Giant

Abstract

Abstract: I focus on Duverger's law according to which single-member plurality elections produce a two-party system. I argue that the law is supported in the U.S but disconfirmed in Britain and Canada. I discuss the reasons why Duverger is wrong. But I also argue that single-member plurality elections produce smaller party systems and that Duverger was right in paying attention to the impact of electoral institutions.