Date of Award
8-2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Political Science
Supervisor
Karen Bird
Language
English
Abstract
This work seeks to examine the role that institutions play in integrating minority populations into predominant political systems. The work explores a number of accommodation strategies, ranging from strong, rigid measures to more fluid methods of integration. Overall, the work presented in this thesis supports the contention that institutions can affect the levels of formal political representation, participation, and efficacy rates of minority populations. There is also an underlying thesis which states that fluid accommodation strategies are preferable overall their rigid counterparts, namely because of the latter's divisive effects and propensity toward Balkanization.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Brooke, "Gradations of Accommodation: Electoral Laws as Power-Sharing Mechanisms" (2006). Open Access Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5168.
http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/opendissertations/5168
McMaster University Library