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Single Idea 21128

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy]

Full Idea

The general theory of 'mirror representation' says that a representative body or institution should be a statistically accurate sample of the wider society it represents.

Gist of Idea

There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population

Source

Andrew Shorten (Contemporary Political Theory [2016], 04)

A Reaction

How fine-grained should this be in accuracy. Should every small minority have at least one rep? Can't reps be trusted to speak for people a bit different from themselves? Maybe not! He quotes Mirabeau in support of this idea.

Book Reference

Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.84