Honors Theses
Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Croft Institute for International Studies
First Advisor
Benjamin Jones
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Electoral systems are vital in controlling the levels of minority descriptive representation in a government because each system contains characteristics that make it easier or more difficult for a member of a minority group to be elected to office. Because of this power, I focus on the role of electoral systems in Western European democracies as a possible, causal factor of domestic terrorism by way of their effect on the level of a country's minority descriptive representation, and therefore, levels of minority inclusion. To test my hypotheses, I use both quantitative and qualitative data in linear regression models, and a comparative case study of France and Denmark. The results of the data analysis indicate that countries that employ more exclusive electoral systems experience significantly higher rates of domestic terrorism than countries that employ more inclusive electoral systems. The findings of this study present a correlation between the descriptive underrepresentation of minority groups in Western European democracies and the corresponding levels of domestic terrorism experienced by these countries.
Recommended Citation
McGraw, Erica Shannon, "Political Underrepresentation and Domestic Terrorism: The Deficiency of Minority Descriptive Representation as a Causal Factor of Violent Radicalization in Western European Democracies" (2016). Honors Theses. 324.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/324
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
Comments
A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.