Technology
Electoral Systems and Their Effects on Party Fragmentation
Quick fact
Under the same national vote share, a party can win zero seats or many seats depending on the electoral system. For example, in the UK, a party with 10% of the national vote can secure no seats, whereas in a proportional system it would gain roughly 10% of the legislature.
Why this is interesting
Why do Britain and the US have two major parties, while Israel and the Netherlands have over a dozen parties represented in parliament? Could the rules of voting itself be the cause?