European University Institute Library

Political recruitment, gender, race, and class in the British Parliament, Pippa Norris, Joni Lovenduski

eng

index present

non fiction

Political recruitment

electronic resource

dictionaries

726826188

Pippa Norris, Joni Lovenduski

Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

gender, race, and class in the British Parliament

In this compelling book Pippa Norris and Joni Lovenduski provide the first full account of legislative recruitment in Britain for twenty-five years. Their central concern is how and why some politicians succeed in moving into the highest offices of state, while others fail. The book examines the relative dearth of women, black and working-class Members of Parliament, and whether the evident social bias in the British political élite matters for political representation. Legislative recruitment concerns the critical step from lower levels (activists, local counsellors) to a parliamentary career. The authors draw evidence from the first systematic surveys of parliamentary candidates, Members of Parliament and party selectors, as well as detailed personal interviews. The study explores how and why people become politicians, and the consequences for parties, legislatures and representative government.--, Provided by publisher

1. Puzzles in political recruitment -- 2. The structure of political recruitment -- 3. Conservative recruitment -- 4. Labour recruitment -- 5. Minor party recruitment -- 6. Supply and demand explanations -- 7. Gatekeeper attitudes -- 8. Candidate resources -- 9. Candidate motivation -- 10. Comparative candidate recruitment -- 11. The values, priorities and roles of MPs -- 12. The personal vote -- 13. Reforming recruitment -- App. A: Details of the survey design and sample -- App. B: Questionnaires