ABSTRACT
Two means in particular can help adapt democracy to national circumstances. Federalism, or decentralization, can help bring decisions closer to the people, whilst the choice of electoral system can help ensure a form of political representation that is best suited to the nation. Federalism is sometimes undertaken to forestall or pre-empt disintegration and to contain an assertive subculture by conceding greater autonomy. The success of 'workable' federalism depends on government by consensus and constitutional evolution. For countries with conflicts, federalism may not end violence, though the discussion it promotes can encourage peaceful and participatory politics. For example, the Sri Lankan government is seeking to accommodate ethnic minorities by empowering them constitutionally. The choice of electoral systems in parliamentary democracy range from pure 'first-past-the-post' (FPP) to pure proportional representation (PR) systems with a national list of candidates. The empirical evidence suggests there are vibrant and functioning democracies with both FPP and PR systems. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages.
