The larger forum of smaller constituencies

Exploratory Premise:
In a democratic system with proportional representation, in which coalition governments could more easily form out of split elections, would it be advantageous to allow Federal constituencies, ‘ridings,’ to form coalitions themselves? Can the establishment of coalition governments be scaled out, to include smaller jurisdictional distinctions? How could this contribute to de-centralizing power? Advantages? Disadvantages? Risks?

Democratic electoral rules in Canada

First-past-the-post vs. Proportional Representation

Proportional Representation and the possibility of coalition governments

Coalition governments scaled down — scaled up? — to the riding level.

Contained in the language above, the entire conception of power is still hierarchical. It is amplified by the language: Down, up.

To radically reform, without revolution, the fairness of our democratic systems, we must talk about ‘increasing the opportunity for representation,’ rather than ‘decentralizing.’

Language is key, framing is key.