Campaign Finance and Democracy: Dilemmas and Solutions

Session Submission Type: Virtual Full Paper Panel

Session Description

Elections are becoming more expensive at a time of considerable democratic strain in America and elsewhere. This panel explores the relationship between campaign finance and democracy. Its contributors will draw on perspectives from American politics, comparative politics and political theory to explore how campaign finance regulations and practices have affected freedom of speech, democratic discourse, representation and electoral competition. The discussion aims to provide new insights into enduring controversies in this field and encourage debate about innovative campaign finance reform proposals.

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Campaign Finance Research Group

Individual Presentations

• Funding We The People: Parties, Partisanship and Political Finance - Matteo Bonotti, Monash University; Zim Nwokora, Deakin University

• Dialing for Dollars and for Domination: Electoral Gatekeeping by the Wealthy - Prithviraj Datta, Franklin and Marshall College

• Does Political Advertising Have Diminishing Returns? - Keena Lipsitz; Javier Padilla

• Why There’s No Free Speech Right to Unlimited Campaign Spending - Erin Miller, Princeton University

Chair

• Diana Dwyre California State University, Chico

Discussants

• Raymond J. La Raja University of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Susan Scarrow University of Houston