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All of the following publications can be ordered from the Institute. Email us for more details.

Consensus Voting Systems'
by PJ Emerson, 1991, 2.50 pounds sterling
This was launched in 1991 to coincide with a major political conference, 'The Other Talks', held in Belfast in October of that year. This was an all-party gathering attended by members of both Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party, not to mention others from Alliance, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, the SDLP, and so on.

The book describes both the preferendum and the matrix vote. The methodology for both is the simpler format in which, in the case of the preferendum, the voters cast their preference points for all the options listed.

"Consensus has been developed in some of the most difficult and unpromising situations [like] Northern Ireland, [yet] the practice was remarkably successful." Resurgence

Defining Democracy, Decisions, Elections and Good Governance
with a foreword by Prof. Arend Lijphart.

'Democracy' is probably the most undefined word in the world. No wonder we use phrases like 'democratic leaders' and 'private citizens' - oxymorons, the pair of them!

And no wonder, too, that many people, politicians and punters alike, actually believe in a double myth: that democracy is majority rule, but it is more than that; and that a majority opinion can be identified by a majority vote; it cannot.

Democracy is for everybody, not just 50% and a bit, so every government should represent the entire parliament, and not just the bigger 'half'. Indeed, as in Switzerland, every democracy should have a broad based, power-sharing coalition.

Then, if governments did represent the entire parliament (just as parliaments supposedly represent the entire country), and if decisions in parliament were taken (electronically) in multi-option votes, parliament could be what it is meant to be - sovereign. This new book, Defining Democracy, tells us how.

In her review, Dervla Murphy wrote "Given the evil inherent in 'globalisation', we all need to read Peter Emerson's new book. It will pull the wool off many eyes." Books Ireland went on to say: "His mastery of the arithmetic of opinion is prodigious, as is his wide knowledge of political systems. Sad how few others can take seriously a man who could make democracy respectable."

To read the Epilogue, click here...

'The Politics of Consensus'
by PJ Emerson, 1994, 12.50 pounds sterling
This was launched in 1994 in both Belfast and Dublin, and those attending that event included two MEPs (FG and GP), one government minister (FF), two TDs (FF and GP), one party leader (WP), one future party chairperson (SDLP), as well as members of Alliance, DL, SF, UUP, etc.

The book describes the preferendum and matrix vote in rather more detail, for full allowance is now made for those who wish to hand in only a partially-filled ballot paper.

Having published the first edition, 'Consensus Voting Systems', the author spent the winter of 1992-3 in all three sections of Bosnia... and most would surely agree that in no way should any Bosnian be forced to give any points at all to a war criminal like Radovan Karadzic or any of his protégés of whom, in the post-war 1996 elections, there were many.

The preferendum was invented by Jean Charles de Borda in 1784, and it was designed, as he himself admitted, for "honest" voters, in honest circumstances. By introducing the partial vote rule, the author has ensured the Borda preferendum can also be used in places as deeply divided as Northern Ireland and Bosnia, where majority voting has often been seen to be exclusive.

'The Politics of Consensus' also gives an historical background to this points system of voting. For the moment at least, it remains the definitive work on the Borda preferendum.

"The Politics of Consensus" was reviewed in only a few publications, but they were all loud in its praise:

Professor Donald G Saari describes "...the author [as] a clever, thoughtful, idealistic, concerned person... [whose] beliefs and notions about voting theory were derived the hard way... from years of actual hands-on involvement." Social Choice and Welfare.

Preferendum Social Survey
by PJ Emerson, 1998, 4.00 pounds sterling
The purpose of this survey was to show how a preferendum could be used to facilitate those wishing to find a cross-community consensus in Northern Ireland. The analysis is based on a survey of 700 persons who expressed opinions on the eight options presented.

'Beyond the Tyranny of the Majority'
by PJ Emerson, 1998, 7.50 pounds sterling
Published in 1998 this is a balanced comparison of all the best known decision- making processes and electoral systems.

In decision-making, voters are usually choosing one policy, or one set of priorities; in an election, in contrast, they may sometimes choose more than one person. For this reason, the two voting procedures are analysed separately, even though the same voting procedures may sometimes be used in both.

Accordingly, one example of a small group of people's preferences is taken for decision-making, and another voting profile as it is called is used for elections.

Summaries of the two analyses are shown here.

In reviewing this work, Professor Arend Lijphart said, "It is excellent... such a clear and easily accessible analysis."

'From Belfast to the Balkans'

by P J Emerson, 2000, 6.00 pounds sterling.
In both conflicts, various groups of people have fought over borders, each trying to ensure that, in any subsequent jurisdiction, it is in the majority. The parallels go further than that, of course.

"It is fascinating and edifying and well worth anyone's study, and no doubt the time will come when, bit by bit, society will find that Emerson was right." Books Ireland.

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