Mechanisms of Electoral System Choice: Bulgaria 1990, 1991, 2009 (Research Brief)

I propose a theoretical framework that illuminates the conditions that limit the seat-maximizing behavior of incumbents and test it through a comparative analysis of three cases of electoral reform in Bulgaria.

Building on Tsebelis‟ (1991) notion of “nested games,” I distinguish theoretically between short-term electoral threat (losing the upcoming election under existing regime) and extraparliamentary threat to the regime (the possibility of major reform of the political system and threat to the dominant role of the incumbent).

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Meg Gardinier, of the University of Virginia, was a 2008-09 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) fellow.