We will discuss:

Key Topics:● Decentralization● Voter Turnout● Candidate Diversity
How do institutional reforms impact voter mobilization in weakly institutionalized democracies?
The speaker has researched the effects of decentralization on voter turnout and candidate diversity in local elections in Ukraine from 2015 to 2020. In 2014, the government launched a decentralization reform that granted communities greater independence. Findings indicate that decentralization increased voter turnout and reduced the proportion of successful candidates with higher education and party affiliation. This shift is attributed to heightened interest in local politics and easier access to candidacy. Even in weak democratic institutions, decentralization can significantly impact voter mobilization, enhancing the relevance of local elections.

Speaker:

Anastasiia Vlasenko - Columbia University and KSE professor in Political Science

For whom:

students 3rd year and above, graduate students, educators, and people interested in science.

Seminar language: 

English