representation and decision making in politics
DESCRIPTION
A presentation to the Young Women African Leaders Movement and the British Council's 'InterAction' Leadership group on theories of representation.TRANSCRIPT
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..?
