Race, Voting, and Representation
Ray Block Jr.
Fall Semester, 2020
What is representation (theory 1)?
Descriptive = leaders standing for constituents
- demographic similarity (race, gender, class, etc.)
- composition of gov’t. reflects citizenry
- sometimes called resemblance or passive representation
What is representation (theory 1)?
Symbolic = leaders standing for constituents
- people believe in/accept representative as their leader
- can be performative as well as demographic
What is representation (theory 1)?
Substantive = leaders acting for constituents
- issue and/or policy responsiveness
- elite-level decision-making \(\leftrightarrow\) mass-level preferences
- sometimes called active representation
What is representation (theory 2)?
Promissory = assessing leaders (promises made/kept)
How representatives are…
- chosen (authorized)
- held accountable (via elections)
What is representation (theory 2)?
Anticipatory = proactive decisions for future voters
- representatives take actions they hope will help their next election
What is representation (theory 2)?
Surrogate = acting for peoples’ interests
- focus: outside (rather than proximate) constituencies
- analogous to “bullseye” model (Fenno 1978)
What is representation (theory 2)?
Gyroscopic = leadership based on one’s own judgement
- suggests trustee rather than delegate leadership strategy
- delegate = do what people want
- trustee = do what’s best for people
- politico = do a little of both
What is representation (theory 3)?
Towards a general theory of representation
Representation = relationship between
- representatives and
- the represented
What is representation (theory 3)?
Towards a general theory of representation
Representatives include:
- a person (dyadic representation)
- a group (collective representation)
- abstract and non-human entities (flags, art, etc.)
What is representation (theory 3)?
Towards a general theory of representation
Audiences use rules to…
- specify selection agents (e.g., residents in Congressional district)
- that meet certain criteria (e.g., eligible adults)
- who use certain decision tools (e.g. majority rule)
What is representation (theory 3)?
Towards a general theory of representation
- representation happens when, based on the rules, an audience recognizes a representative
What is representation (theory 3)?
Towards a general theory of representation
- Redfield separates representation from Democratic norms
- in so doing, he expands the range of the concept