Majoritarianiset

Majoritarianism is a principle of decision-making in which the majority of participants in a group or in the electorate are decisive. In this context, majority refers to more than fifty percent of the votes cast. This principle is often applied in democratic systems to determine the outcome of elections or referendums. The underlying idea is that the will of the greater number should prevail in collective decisions.

There are different forms of majoritarianism. Absolute majoritarianism requires a candidate or proposal to receive over fifty percent of the total votes. Simple or plurality majoritarianism, on the other hand, requires only a plurality, meaning the highest number of votes, even if it's less than fifty percent. The latter is often criticized for potentially allowing a candidate with minority support to win if the vote is split among several candidates.

Majoritarian systems are contrasted with consensus-based decision-making or proportional representation systems, which aim to ensure representation for a broader range of viewpoints, not just the largest group. While majoritarianism can lead to clear and decisive outcomes, it can also result in the marginalization of minority groups whose preferences are consistently overridden. The effectiveness and fairness of majoritarianism are subjects of ongoing debate in political science and philosophy.