Constituency Performances: the “heart” of democratic politics

Main author: Crewe, Emma
Other authors: Sarra, Nicholas
Format: Book Chapters           
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id eprints-32340
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic JN Political institutions (Europe)
description The representation of a constituency is at the heart of most democracies. In many countries an elected representative acts as a bridge between a parliament and a locality, while members of the parliament as a collective mediate between the center and the whole of that nation. This chapter explains why a methodological approach that relies on collaborative ethnography and multidisciplinary theorizing is a powerful way to probe the performances, identities, and emotions underlying the work of elected politicians. Taking a relational and performative approach, the chapter considers how these relationships in politics are not merely about interests, roles, or viewpoints; politicians have the power of evocation and so are important to people’s imagination and feeling of belonging. Politicians who ignore the sacred—the ritual, symbolism, and drama of politics—and merely try to impress voters with their ideological standpoints, will find it harder to secure support.
author_additional Rai, Shirin M.
author_additionalStr Rai, Shirin M.
format Book Chapters
author Crewe, Emma
author_facet Crewe, Emma
Sarra, Nicholas
authorStr Crewe, Emma
author_letter Crewe, Emma
author2 Sarra, Nicholas
author2Str Sarra, Nicholas
title Constituency Performances: the “heart” of democratic politics
publisher Oxford University Press
publishDate 2021
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/32340/