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Discuss The Advantages And Disadvantages Of First-Past-The-Post

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There are various types of electoral systems adopted all around the world, mainly being Proportional Representation (PR), Majoritarian/ First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) and mixed electoral systems. I firmly believe that some countries stand a better chance at promoting the representation of women and ethnic minorities through the usage of certain electoral systems. This essay will firstly seek to explore the differences between PR and FPTP and the effects of such electoral systems. Secondly it will analyse the downfalls and male dominance associated with FPTP. Thirdly it will examine countries that still use the FPTP system and how their politics may seem unfair. Lastly it will compare countries which have shifted from FPTP to PR which in turn has …show more content…

(Ishiyama, J.T. 2012, Electoral Systems). This is as a result of the actual manner in which the electoral systems conduct themselves and further their representation amongst the nation’s people. It can be seen that a Majoritarian Electoral Systems adopts the notion of FPTP. The idea of First-Past-The-Post is essentially the single individual that comes first in the race wins. Majoritarian systems are a single-member plurality system in which the public will vote for an individual rather than a party. This system seeks to target the political centre and the most influential citizens as it is solely the votes for the individual that counts, whereas in a PR system that their target is the whole country and the relative parties campaign on the political and ideological spectrum.( Ishiyama, J.T. 2012, Electoral Systems). The Majoritarian and FPTP electoral system however misappropriate the number of votes to seats in government/parliament which in turn causes alienation in a society which is already divided. In a society which is divided there needs to be fair elections and representation as the purpose of the government should be to break down all divisions in the country. Thus it can be seen that in a system which uses FPTP,

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