Overview

Democratic politics is expensive. In US presidential elections, for instance, total spending now exceeds $6.5 billion. In the US, election campaigns are largely funded by private donations from individuals and corporate entities, whereas in Germany, the state is the main funder of electoral politics through subventions to parties. In some other countries, parties have been able to raise most of what they need internally by charging membership dues or, more exceptionally, by relying on a wealthy patron. However, there have been numerous scandals and controversies involving political finance, which pose a serious challenge to fundamental democratic principles. Matteo Bonotti and Zim Nwokora analyze the nature of these democratic risks and how they differ across various models of political finance. They argue that political finance rules ought to counterbalance the weaknesses of the party system they are being used alongside. To do so, political finance rules and party systems should be assessed together, in terms of three distinctive normative dimensions--collegiality, systemic voice, and systemic accountability--which capture what parties, at their best, can contribute to democratic politics. Money, Parties, and Democracy sets out a framework for evaluating political finance systems so that they can be designed or reformed to better support good governance.

Full Product Details

9798228783065

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Zim Nwokora is an associate professor of politics and policy studies at Deakin University in Melbourne. He is a comparative political scientist whose research examines theoretical and empirical questions about political party systems, constitutional structures, democracy, and political finance. His work has appeared in journals such as the Australian Journal of Political Science, the Australian Journal of Politics and History, the British Journal of Political Science, Governance, the International Journal of Constitutional Law, Party Politics, Political Research Quarterly, and Political Studies. His research has been discussed in media outlets such as ABC Radio, BBC World Service, and The Conversation. Matteo Bonotti is an associate professor of politics and international relations at Monash University in Melbourne. His research interests include democratic theory, political liberalism and public reason, linguistic justice, free speech and civility, and food justice. His work has appeared in journals such as the American Political Science Review, the Journal of Politics, the British Journal of Political Science, and Political Studies. He is the author of Partisanship and Political Liberalism in Diverse Societies and the coauthor of Healthy Eating Policy and Political Philosophy: A Public Reason Approach. Benjamin A. Onyango has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock, California. After graduating in 1992, he relocated to Hollywood, California, to pursue a career in music and acting and an occasional crack at standup comedy. His TV credits include The Wives (Kenya), General Hospital, The Shield, and The X-Files. His film credits include Senior Year, Beautifully Broken, God's Not Dead 1, 2, 3, and 4, Freshman Year, The Boy, Father Africa, Default, Kwame, in which he won a 2009 Best Actor Award, Chains, and Tears of the Sun. His knowledge of and fluency in the Swahili language has landed him voice acting and ADR roles in many Hollywood films, including The Unbreakable Sword, The Last Face, Furious 7, Constantine, Night at the Museum 1 and 3, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Machine Gun Preacher, Inception, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Primeval, Path to 911, and A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and the video games Resident Evil V and Mass Effect 3. His commercial credits include Pringles and Jardiance. His business, Substitute Teachers Placement Services, Inc., employs teachers and teacher assistants for assignment to special education Schools to work with children on the Autism spectrum.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available