What is descriptive representation, its value and shortcomings?
What is the benefit of having ensuring parliament goes some way to reflecting the social diversity of a nation? The idea behind “descriptive” representation is the mirror notion of politics which argues that the government should be a portrait in miniature of the society as a whole, reflecting divergent groups, opinions, and traits. Such descriptive representation should then enhance the substantive influence of minority groups. It is clear that some degree of descriptive representation is valuable, especially when minority groups have common interests, tend to vote as a block in elections and are broadly marginalized from decision making. This is not just a symptom of unhealthy majority-minority relations in new democracies in the developing world it is also a problem in most established democracies in the West. While there are clearly important benefits coming from a degree of “descriptive representation”, there are problems with the notion. First, there is the question of what and w
