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Announcement of new editors for Representation

From 2008 Representation will have new editors – Dr. Andrew Russell and Dr. Stephen de Wijze. Both work in Politics, at the University of Manchester. Representation is a journal of long standing repute. It has been publishing since 1960 and has a general interest in all matters relating to the theme of representative democracy and to this end it has established itself as a recognised journal of record and comment both in the UK and internationally. While building on its present strengths, the new editors wish to expand the journal’s remit and introduce more normative concepts of democracy and representation, to consider more than parliamentary versions of representation and to broaden the geographic scope of the journal. This change in scope follows two paths. Firstly, it seeks contributors who are interested in exploring the interface between democratic practice and theory. In particular, this focus seeks contributions that apply theoretical insights to actual examples of current practice. Some examples of areas where theoretical discussions could make a significant contribution to the actual current practices are debates within topics such as: (i) overcoming the democratic deficit, (ii) ensuring adequate representation for women and minorities in liberal democratic pluralist societies, (iii) finding ways of modernising elections, and (iv) voter education and (v) debating the need, extent and plausibility of democratic institutions at a trans-national, or even global, level. Secondly, while not neglecting the current focus of the journal, the editors would like to expand its international coverage so that the journal will offer the readers insights in the state of democracy worldwide. The editors hope that the widening of the journal’s scope will bring with it a new set of readers and especially those working on the interface between theory and practice. Representation will offer a place for debates and scholarship, both empirical and normative, on democratic practices around the world. The introduction of the theoretical dimension does not preclude a focus on empirical studies of non-electoral forms of representation and decision-making. Indeed, it is just these areas where the editors believe a theoretical input would be valuable. As in the past, the new editors of Representation are interested in furthering links with national and international groups involved in the study of elections, representation and voting systems and will continue to publish high quality papers on elections, institutions and electoral systems.