This contribution investigates how ballot complexity shapes vote concentration in preferential list PR systems – a growing electoral system used in over 30 democracies. These systems impose a dual cognitive burden on voters: choosing a party list and then selecting candidates within that list. Drawing on original data covering 158 elections across 28 countries (1994–2024), we test the effects of three electoral parameters: the number of candidates (C), the number of preference votes allowed (PV), and the number of competing parties (N).

Oxford Political Review (OPR) is celebrating the launch of its 16th print issue, under the theme ‘Nothing Is Ever Always’, with a panel discussion on democratic backsliding and resilience, featuring Prof Maya Tudor and Prof Scott Williamson.

Event Overview:
Amid significant global uncertainty—with major economic, social, and environmental challenges—the need for responsible leadership has never been more urgent. At the same time, the opportunities to cultivate good leadership have never been greater. In this special event, students will have the unique opportunity to engage with Yukihisa Fujita—a distinguished statesman, humanitarian, and peacebuilder—who brings decades of experience on the front lines of global leadership, conflict resolution, and humanitarian assistance.

A wide range of items are now recognised as “dual use”, capable of being employed for both civil and military purposes. From drones, robots, and software including AI to chemical and biological tools, the term has evolved beyond its original post-World War 2 meaning as a category of nuclear materials that could serve both the energy sector and the development of nuclear weapons. Today, anything is a weapon and may be used as such, especially in hybrid warfare.

Abeer Al-Saud is a dynamic explorer, multilateral expert, peace builder, cultural professional, and artist whose work bridges environmental conservation, scientific exploration, and cultural heritage preservation.

Friedrich Merz, the new German Chancellor, has come into office at a time of political uncertainty and economic stagnation. His coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD is a pragmatic one, but will it prove to be more stable than the "traffic light" coalition of Olaf Scholz, his predecessor? In the election of February 2025, the right wing extremist AfD doubled its share in the election - (how) will Merz manage to curb its growing influence?