This innovative comparative study stresses the ways in which the development of political parties had negative effects on the quality of democracy, the nature of political representation, and political accountability in the early stages of post-communist politics. Though most acute in the presidential systems of Russia and the Ukraine, new elites everywhere struggled to gain the confidence of their electorates. Frances Millard shows how the parties' failure to develop social roots created conditions for persistent electoral volatility which stimulated political entrepreneurs to leave their parties or establish new ones. Although voters rapidly learned from their experience with particular electoral systems, party fluidity undermined voters' capacity to engage in strategic voting. Voters' choices were often negative, taking advantage of the opportunity to dismiss incumbents, and frequently choosing new, untested elites in their search for representation. The social composition of parliaments narrowed, with a reduction in the numbers of both workers and women. Only the largest of the ethnic minorities demonstrated the capacity for political influence.

Winner of the BASEES George Blazyca Prize , in recognition of the outstanding contribution to the field of East European Studies

For more information see the prize website: http://www.basees.org.uk/blazycaprize.html

Preface
List of Tables
List of Party Acronyms
Representation, Political Parties and the Quality of Democracy
The Concept of Representation
Political Parties and Their Evolution
Voters and the Electoral Mechanism
Voters and Electoral Outcomes
Political Parties and Party Systems
Standing for Office: Parties and their Candidates
The Representation of Women
The Political Representation of National Minorities
Conclusion: Elections, Parties and Representation

FRANCES MILLARD is a Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Essex. Her recent books include Polish Politics and Society, The Anatomy of the New Poland, and Embodying Democracy: Electoral System Design in Post-Communist Europe (with Sarah Birch, Marina Popescu, and Kieran Williams). She has written widely on communist and post-communist political and social developments.