The Recruitment of Representatives in British Local Government: pathways and barriers

Abstract

The classical model of political recruitment formulated in the United States is re-examined in the light of British evidence on the recruitment of local elected representatives. Drawing together survey evidence from the last 30 years, this article reviews the key components of motivations, resources and opportunities.A complementary focus on pathways and barriers to office highlights the importance of political party politics in the British context. Examination of the evidence shows that while parties provide an important pathway to political participation, they also act as a barrier to recruitment to council services. Fran~aisLe modele c1assique du recrutement politique formule aux Etats-Unis est re-examine a la lumiere de I'evidence britannique sur Ie recrutement de representants elus 10caux.Assimilant les resultats de sondages des trente dernieres annees, cet article revise les elements clefs de motivation, de ressources et de possibilites. Un regard complementaire sur les chemins et les barrieres aux fonctions montre I'importance de la politique du parti politique dans Ie contexte britannique. L'etude des resultats montre qu'alors que les partis servent d'importante voie d'acces a la participation politique, ils servent en meme temps de barriere au recrutement aux services des conseils municipaux.Espanol EI modele c1asico de reclutamiento formulado en los Estados Unidos, es examinado en el contexto del reclutamiento de representantes locales en el Reino Unido. Este articulo examina evidencia de los ultimos treinta alios, reseliando los componentes principales de las motivaciones, recursos y oportunidades.Trata tam bien el tema de los caminos y las barreras que se presentan durante el proceso de eleccion, haciendo enfasis en la importancia de las alianzas polfticas en el contexte del Reino Unido. EIexamen de la evidencia muestra que los partidos politicos representan un medio importante para la participacion polltica, pero actuan a la vez como un barrera en la contrataci6n de personal para los consejos locales. Delivered by Ingenta to: UniversityNirmoJo Roo:The recruitment of representatives in British local government Pathways to political recruitment and the processes of socialisation are central to the working of modern political systems. In Britain, the question of who gets recruited to local political life, and by what means, is a matter of practical, as well as academic, interest. Concerns about the standard of elected members, and the under-representation of certain groups, preoccupy practitioners and policy makers alike. Proposals abound for increasing the 'calibre' of councillors, and for enhancing the representation of women in particular. A moment's reflection suggests that the prospects for achieving a more able or a more representative body of members turn upon the reasons why private individuals become councillors, the considerations which prompt them to stand for election, and the processes by which they are endorsed and supported. Yet little attention is paid to how people enter public life, an...

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