Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: ABSTRACT. Comparative policy research
has created problems for traditional justifications of democracy as
being uniquely responsive to popular opinion. There seems little party
convergence on majority opinion in practice. Few governments rest on
spontaneous popular majorities.
‘Consensus democracy’ relies on party elites making policy by excluding
popular passions. Can a necessary connection between public opinion and
public policy only be made by direct policy voting under direct
democracy? We suggest an alternative mechanism – a ‘median mandate’ –
and check evidence for its operation in 16 nations from 1972-91 in the
important area of central government size, a key component of
left-right differences.