Hello Professor Foley and Common Ground Democracy Readers,
This was an especially informative article! I always enjoy when your articles include mathematical formulas that support the content.
I think that your work in election reform that adheres to majority rule and seeks the median candidates has relevance to an area of politics I have not ever read referenced in your articles; foreign policy.
I have read some of your election law blogs and other articles that mention how election reforms would alleviate current issues in domestic politics. For example, when you wrote about how nonpartisan primaries might have prevented the House Speakership debacle last year or the collapse of the Border bill earlier this year.
However, there is a strong argument that election reform could strengthen our foreign policy, as well. Consider the recent election of Vladimir Putin this past weekend that extended his 24 year rule another 6 years. Or consider the longevity of Xi Jinping in China. While the President of the US can only serve 8 years in office, America's competitors have leaders that serve much longer, providing their countries with more consistent long-term goals. Whereas the US often shifts in political agendas every 4 to 8 years with the election of Presidents from different political parties, Russia, China, Iran and many others remain on the same political trajectory.
The Condorcet and ranked choice voting combination could alleviate the drastic deviations in foreign policy the US experiences with each new president. Theoretically, the most preferred or median candidate would provide a more consistent political trajectory in foreign affairs. This effect would not only allow for more consistent long-term goals in dealing with our adversaries or competitors, but also provide our allies with a reliable partner.
Certainly, our European allies are worried about the possibility of Trump being reelected this year because the US would shift its approach to NATO and the war in Ukraine. Obviously, Putin would prefer this shift to occur. A median candidate elected through a Condorcet style process could provide the US and its allies with a stable and consistent foreign policy.
Terrific article, and I had no idea about any of this before reading! In the past, I've thought about how Alaska's new top four system, despite being an improvement, still seemed to only be able to elevate a partisan candidate. I really hope that primary reform in Arizona succeeds, and that condorcet ranked-choice voting is eventually used.
Hello Professor Foley and Common Ground Democracy Readers,
This was an especially informative article! I always enjoy when your articles include mathematical formulas that support the content.
I think that your work in election reform that adheres to majority rule and seeks the median candidates has relevance to an area of politics I have not ever read referenced in your articles; foreign policy.
I have read some of your election law blogs and other articles that mention how election reforms would alleviate current issues in domestic politics. For example, when you wrote about how nonpartisan primaries might have prevented the House Speakership debacle last year or the collapse of the Border bill earlier this year.
However, there is a strong argument that election reform could strengthen our foreign policy, as well. Consider the recent election of Vladimir Putin this past weekend that extended his 24 year rule another 6 years. Or consider the longevity of Xi Jinping in China. While the President of the US can only serve 8 years in office, America's competitors have leaders that serve much longer, providing their countries with more consistent long-term goals. Whereas the US often shifts in political agendas every 4 to 8 years with the election of Presidents from different political parties, Russia, China, Iran and many others remain on the same political trajectory.
The Condorcet and ranked choice voting combination could alleviate the drastic deviations in foreign policy the US experiences with each new president. Theoretically, the most preferred or median candidate would provide a more consistent political trajectory in foreign affairs. This effect would not only allow for more consistent long-term goals in dealing with our adversaries or competitors, but also provide our allies with a reliable partner.
Certainly, our European allies are worried about the possibility of Trump being reelected this year because the US would shift its approach to NATO and the war in Ukraine. Obviously, Putin would prefer this shift to occur. A median candidate elected through a Condorcet style process could provide the US and its allies with a stable and consistent foreign policy.
Terrific article, and I had no idea about any of this before reading! In the past, I've thought about how Alaska's new top four system, despite being an improvement, still seemed to only be able to elevate a partisan candidate. I really hope that primary reform in Arizona succeeds, and that condorcet ranked-choice voting is eventually used.