Electoral Rights In Europe: Advances And Challenges (routledge Studies In Elections, Democracy And Autocracy)

This book’s main aim is to explore the ways in which the election of politicians can be made more fair and credible by adopting a human rights approach to how the electoral process is conducted. Contributors unpack the ‘right to free elections’ by examining it from a variety of disciplines and methods, ranging from thick, empirical case studies to comparative legal and political analyses. The first part of the book, Hard and Soft Law Human Rights Standards Relating to Elections, discusses the various standards for the conduct of elections that have been devised at the international level, focusing on their application within Europe. The second part, National and Regional Case Studies, presents a number of cases that demonstrate how problems that occur might be amenable to solution through the adoption of an approach based on the existing or potential hard and soft law standards. The case studies relate to jurisdictions within Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe, and there is a focus on countries emerging from conflict or from an authoritarian past. The third part of the book, Comparative Perspectives, looks at some pertinent electoral issues comparatively, attempting to deduce from those studies emerging principles that might guide countries towards electoral systems that are fairer and have greater integrity and reliability. From the perspective of a number of different social science disciplines, this book explores the ways in which the election of politicians can be made more fair and credible by adopting a human rights approach to elections. It discusses existing international standards for the conduct of elections and presents case studies relating to jurisdictions within Europe, especially those emerging from conflict or from an authoritarian past, which demonstrate how problems occur and can be addressed. Significant advances have been achieved through the Council of Europe's soft and hard law frameworks but the book demonstrates that much more needs to be done to ensure that these and other standards are fully adhered to and developed. This collection offers a fresh examination of electoral rights and practices - and their impact on the quality of democracy - by superimposing a human rights perspective on existing election theories derived from the literatures of law, political science and international relations. This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of electoral democracy and human rights, as well as those working in the areas of comparative politics and European politics-- Provided by Publisher Índice: 1. Introduction [Brice Dickson and Helen Hardman] Part I: Hard and Soft Law Human Rights Standards relating to Elections 2. The Contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to Soft Law in Electoral Matters [Chemavon Chahbazian] 3. Between Soft and Hard Law Standards: The Contribution of the Venice Commission in the Electoral Field [Amaya Ubeda de Torres] 4. The Level of the Protection of the Right to Free Elections in the Practice of the European Court of Human Rights [Eszter Bodnar] Part II: National and Regional Case Studies 5. Voting Rights of Minorities and the Role of Ethnicity in Elections in the Post-Yugoslav Space [Petra Roter] 6. Prisoner Voting Saga: Reasons for Challenges [Kanstantsin Dzhietsiarou] 7. Electoral Rights in Russia: Mapping the Situation at the European Court of Human Rights [Olga Chernishova] Part III: Comparative Perspectives 8. When Elections are Free but not Effective: Party Systems and Corruption [Petra Schleiter and Alisa Voznaya] 9. The Impact of Elections and Voter De-alignment on Human Rights [Helen Hardman] 10. Electoral Finances, Human Rights and Fairness [Brice Dickson] 11 Conclusions [Helen Hardman and Brice Dickson] "From the perspective of a number of different social science disciplines, this book explores the ways in which the election of politicians can be made more fair and credible by adopting a human rights approach to elections. It discusses existing international standards for the conduct of elections and presents case studies relating to jurisdictions within Europe, especially those emerging from conflict or from an authoritarian past, which demonstrate how problems occur and can be addressed. Significant advances have been achieved through the Council of Europe’s soft and hard law frameworks but the book demonstrates that much more needs to be done to ensure that these and other standards are fully adhered to and developed. This collection offers an...examination of electoral rights and practices – and their impact on the quality of democracy – by superimposing a human rights perspective on existing election theories derived from the literatures of law, political science and international relations."-- Provided by publisher The Contribution Of The Parliamentary Assembly Of The Council Of Europe To Soft Law In Electoral Matters / Chemavon Chahbazian -- Between Soft And Hard Law Standards : The Contribution Of The Venice Commission In The Electoral Field / Amaya Úbeda De Torres -- The Level Of The Protection Of The Right To Free Elections In The Practice Of The European Court Of Human Rights / Eszter Bodnár -- Voting Rights Of Minorities And The Role Of Ethnicity In Elections In The Post-yugoslav Space / Petra Roter -- Prisoner Voting Saga : Reasons For Challenges / Kanstantsin Dzhietsiarou -- Electoral Rights In Russia : Mapping The Situation At The European Court Of Human Rights / Olga Chernishova -- When Elections Are Free But Not Effective : Party Systems And Corruption / Petra Schleiter And Alisa Voznaya -- The Impact Of Elections And Voter De-alignment On Human Rights / Helen Hardman -- Electoral Finances, Human Rights And Fairness / Brice Dickson. Edited By Helen Hardman And Brice Dickson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Resumen: "From the perspective of a number of different social science disciplines, this book explores the ways in which the election of politicians can be made more fair and credible by adopting a human rights approach to elections. It discusses existing international standards for the conduct of elections and presents case studies relating to jurisdictions within Europe, especially those emerging from conflict or from an authoritarian past, which demonstrate how problems occur and can be addressed.Significant advances have been achieved through the Council of Europe’s soft and hard law frameworks but the book demonstrates that much more needs to be done to ensure that these and other standards are fully adhered to and developed. This collection offers a fresh examination of electoral rights and practices – and their impact on the quality of democracy – by superimposing a human rights perspective on existing election theories derived from the literatures of law, political science and international relations. "