Volební design, reformy a inženýrství v postjugoslávském prostoru 1990–2015
Electoral Design, Reforms, and Engineering in the Post-Yugoslav State Entities, 1990–2015

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the topic of electoral design, reforms, and engineering in the post-Yugoslav state entities between 1990 and 2015. First, it briefly conceptualizes a theoretical framework, drawing on the work by Katz, Shugart and Renwick. Second, it describes the evolution of electoral design and reforms to the main chambers in particular systems in detail. Third, it analyses and compares common trends in electoral reforms and design. Proportional representation (PR) list systems have been used for almost 90 % of all 60 elections (a PR list had been adopted by the fourth elections in all the systems). There have been 29 reforms in total (avg. 3.6 per entity), 1/5 of them major and 4/5 minor. Major reforms took place in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in Serbia (one each) and in Croatia and Macedonia (two each). There have, however, been no major electoral reforms in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, or Kosovo. Minor reforms have been present in all entities (the most in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, the least in Kosovo and Slovenia). While major reforms were primarily used to correct parts of political systems perceived as dysfunctional, one third of minor reforms were used for intentional electoral engineering. Generally, post-Yugoslav electoral design can be considered unstable, with frequent electoral reforms by the state entities (avg. every 4.7 year). Each system also introduced its specific approach to national minorities, which facilitated their representation in the main chambers.

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