Maurice Duverger

Maurice Duverger was a French political scientist known for his analysis of electoral systems. He proposed that the type of electoral system significantly influences political party development and the number of parties. Specifically, he identified that single-member district systems (like first-past-the-post) tend to favor a two-party system, while proportional representation systems encourage multiple parties. His work, called Duverger’s Law, helps explain why different countries have varying political landscapes based on their voting methods. This understanding assists in analyzing how electoral rules shape political competition and stability.