Democracy within Parties

Hazan and Rahat give us the first systematic framework for describing and analyzing candidate selection methods within political parties. Following in the tradition of Schattschneider, Dahl, and Sartori, they also give us a powerful corrective to the mantra that more internal democracy will automatically both reverse party decline and improve democracy at the system level. -- Richard Katz, John Hopkins University

Compared with the dramatic hoop-la of election campaigns, the prior process of nominating candidates has long remained hidden. But this process is also vital - for voter choice, inclusive parliaments, and democracy. This insightful and original study compares candidate selection across multiple democracies and provides fresh insights into why it matters. -- Pippa Norris, Harvard University

If "democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties" (Schattschneider), we need more knowledge about one critical partisan function: selecting candidates. Hazan and Rahat's book is an essential contribution to our understanding of this underappreciated aspect of political parties. -- Matthew Shugart, University of California, San Diego

In this valuable book, Reuven Hazan and Gideon Rahat explore the "secret garden" of intra-party candidate selection methods with precision and insight. As their extensive bibliography attests, this subject is not a new one for research. But our knowledge of it is far too limited. This volume takes a significant step towards greater understanding. -- The American Political Science Association

A much-needed study for modern democracy. -- Consolata Raphael, 'Political Studies Review'

Reuven Y Hazan is Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He works on elections and electoral systems, political parties and party systems, legislative studies and Israeli politics. He is the author of Democracy Within Parties: Candidate Selection Methods and their Political Consequences (with Gideon Rahat) (Oxford University Press, 2010), Cohesion and Discipline in Legislatures: Political Parties, Party Leadership, Parliamentary Committees and Governance (Routledge, 2006), and co-editor of 'Understanding Electoral Reform' (with Monique Leyenaar) (a special issue of West European Politics, 2011).