The Influence of Electoral Rules on Party System Nationalization in Ukraine (Research Brief)

Party system nationalization constitutes a growing area of research in political science. This project examines the influence of electoral rules on party system nationalization in Ukraine, a country with significant regional variation in voting patterns. It finds that single-member district rules tend to intensify regional variation in voting, by making it harder for parties to compete in electorally hostile regions. However, until Ukraine attains a democratic equilibrium, the impact of electoral rules will be secondary to concerns over creeping authoritarianism. The U.S. should promote political decentralization, respect for the rules of the game, and a non-zero sum foreign policy in its relations with Ukraine.

Brandon Wilkening, of Indiana University, was a 2011-2012 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) fellow.