representation and decision making in politics

Bridget Harris, Leadership Consultant, August 2009

representationequality

diversity

YWALM and Interaction

• politicians• board members• doctors

What is representation?

... people making decisions on our behalf

• journalists• campaigners• parents

Different decision makers...

• doctors• parents

• trustees• campaigners

trustee

descriptive

• politicians• journalists

mandate

Competence, confidenceKnowledge, educationManagement skills

competence

versus

direct experience

Visionary?Communicator?Fixer?

representatives

same experiencesshared interests

same constraints

Gender?Race?

Age?

three models

• trustee: because I'm better than you

• mandate: because you've told me what to do

• descriptive: because I'm like you

does representationwork?

"the rights and interests of every (or any) person

are only secure from being disregarded when the person interested is

himself able, and habitually disposed, to stand up for them"

 (John Stuart Mill)

a test for good representation...

...are you going to be personally affected by the decision you are making on behalf of others?

How does descriptiverepresentation work?

you are always directly involved

• direct democracy (5th Century BC Athens)

• referenda• local groups• participatory budgeting• community empowerment

How does descriptiverepresentation work?

you are randomly selected

• juries• opinion polls• focus groups• surveys

How does descriptiverepresentation work?

you elect individual or different groups

• electoral system (pr)• quotas• electoral boundaries• devolution

Does descriptive representation make a

difference?

• reactions of the represented

• policy outcomes

• legitimacy and symbolism

• party political, ideologies, selection systems

• individual circumstances, opportunities, status, confidence

barriers to entry

• the system, institutions, processes

Examples from UK

overcoming barriers:

systemic

overcoming barriers:

party politics

overcoming barriers:

individuals

www.beacouncillor.org.uk

Question:

Do men need to be more like women, or women need to be more like men in order to

achieve equality?

A question of equality..?

Bridget Harris, Leadership Consultant, August 2009

questions?

bridget@bridgetharris.org