The Electoral Imagination - Literature, Legitimacy, and Rigged Systems

Explore the intricate relationship between literature, democracy, and electoral systems in this 55-minute Cambridge University Press video presentation. Delve into Professor Ato Quayson's examination of Kent Puckett's "The Electoral Imagination: Literature, Legitimacy, and Other Rigged Systems." Investigate the fundamental questions surrounding voting processes, ballot counting, election design, and the widespread belief in rigged elections. Analyze the intellectual history, literary criticism, and political theory that shape our understanding of democratic elections. Examine original interpretations of works by George Eliot, Ralph Ellison, Lewis Carroll, Kenneth Arrow, Anthony Trollope, Arthur Koestler, Richard Nixon, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Consider the impact of voting systems like the Palm Beach Butterfly Ballot and the Single Transferable Vote on electoral outcomes. Gain insights into the complex relationship between individual voters and collective decision-making, while exploring alternative perspectives on the concept of election rigging.