Different Process, Different Outcomes: A Response to Cowley, Webb and Bale

Abstract

This paper responds to Cowley, Webb and Bale's critique of our paper on sortition, parties and political careers. Cowley et al. argue that within-party sortition will not increase parliamentary descriptive representation (PDR). We largely agree with that claim, which was not the focus of our original paper. If PDR is thought to be important then quotas might be necessary alongside within-party sortition. We emphasise our argument is about changing the character of parties and MPs by reducing factionalism, increasing deliberation and reducing voter scepticism about politicians by reducing patronage, clientelism and careerism. Using evidence from Morena in Mexico we suggest sortition within parties is more likely to succeed in these aims than Cowley et al.'s more sceptical counterfactual speculation on these matters.