Against the Void: Constituency Work and Connection Building Evidence from Australia

Abstract

Peter Mair argued that political parties and society are withdrawing from each other, thus creating a 'void' in the heart of representation in many established democracies. However, Members of Parliament (MPs) are increasing the time and resources devoted to constituency work. This article explores how MPs, as parties' representatives, engage with constituents, and whether this work takes the disconnected form expected in a political void. Interviews with 20 Australian state legislators show MPs building policy, service, symbolic and partisan connections with citizens. Though parties no longer definitively structure representation, these findings highlight the importance of understanding party-society relationships in the constituency.