Introduction

This chapter introduces the overarching topic and research questions explored in the book and discusses the parliamentary candidates’ role in representative democracies. First, the chapter describes the emphasis on political parties as agents of representation in electoral research and relates this to a discussion of parliamentary candidates and the alleged personalisation of politics. Second, the chapter formulates a theoretical framework based on the principal agent theory and identifies intervening variables that might influence the role and the behaviour of parliamentary candidates at the macro, meso and micro levels. The framework is centred on the delegation and the accountability relationship between candidates, voters and parties. Finally, the chapter summarises the objectives and main results of subsequent chapters.