Beyond Borders: How Political Parties Mobilize and Represent Diaspora Voters in Varied Electoral Systems

Van Haute and Kernalegenn (2023) highlight the underexplored arena of transnational party politics. This research would fill a clear gap by investigating how electoral system features—such as reserved diaspora seats, list types, or district magnitude—influence parties’ decisions to campaign abroad and the efficacy of these efforts. While the existing literature focuses on domestic politics, this comparative project would map strategies across countries with significant emigrant populations and diverse electoral systems. The novelty lies in theorizing how electoral rules shape not just who votes, but where and how parties expend resources internationally. Such findings could inform debates on diaspora enfranchisement and the transnationalization of democratic politics.

References:

1. Political Parties Abroad. A New Arena for Electoral Politics. Emilie van Haute, Tudi Kernalegenn (2023). Representation.