De verborgen invloed van verkiezingen: symboliek, ritueel, regelmaat en anticiperende effecten

Samenvatting

Voters are aware that their contribution to the political process is insignificant, yet consider the electoral process very important. Hence this importance cannot be explained by the traditional conception of 'free competition for a free vote.' Another interpretation is presented which emphasizes the hidden influence of elections. Elections are essentially a regularly recurring phenomenon that stabilizes democratic politics. This stabilizing effect is related to the symbolic & ritual nature of the event. Moreover, the anticipation of elections affects political actors, pressure groups, & even the bureaucracy in interelectoral periods. It is suggested that elections contribute to political stability regardless of the system's level of democracy. A. Orianne.