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Contiguity, constituencies, and the political representation of minorities

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  • Benjamin Forest

    (5620McGill University, Canada)

  • Mike Medeiros

Abstract

Contiguity is commonly treated as an essential, albeit noncontroversial quality of electoral districts. In contrast, we argue that the virtues ascribed to contiguity – discouraging gerrymandering, facilitating democratic deliberation, and mirroring political communities – either have weak justifications in practice or do not have a clear association with contiguity per se . Moreover, contiguity can impose significant constraints on minority representation when minorities live in segregated, widely separated settlements. We use examples from Canada to demonstrate the effects of contiguity on minority representation by creating sets of non-contiguous constituencies that substantially increase the number of districts with minority majorities. More generally, we argue that scholars should pay more attention to how the conflation of contiguity and political community are woven into state practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Forest & Mike Medeiros, 2021. "Contiguity, constituencies, and the political representation of minorities," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(5), pages 879-899, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:39:y:2021:i:5:p:879-899
    DOI: 10.1177/2399654420972401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richa Nagar & Victoria Lawson & Linda McDowell & Susan Hanson, 2002. "Locating Globalization: Feminist (Re)readings of the Subjects and Spaces of Globalization," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(3), pages 257-284, July.
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