This topic area was written in 2005 and 2006 and revised in 2012.
Maja Tjernström was the lead writer for the Parties & Candidates topic area. Maja works as Programme Officer at the Political Parties' Programme at International IDEA and has published on topics such as voter turnout, democratization and women’s participation in politics, with a special focus on political finance. Before joining IDEA in 2000 she worked on different foreign affairs projects while finishing her Master’s degree. She is an experienced polling station officer and international election observer.
Linda Ederberg was the co-writer of this topic area. During 2005 and 2006 she worked as ACE Research Assistant at International IDEA. Linda has finished her studies in political science, psychology, German literature and linguistics at University of Heidelberg, Germany and NUI Galway, Ireland, and graduated as M.A in July 2005. During the studies, she had a part-time employment as student employee in a research project at the political science department and as assistant teacher (tutor) to lectures in international relations and European politics.
The authors would like to express their thanks to Carlos Navarro and Arturo Sanchez for support and comments on the outline of the topic area and to the other lead writers and ACE project managers for input during the Banff Lead Writers' meeting.
To Cecilia Bylesjö for reading and commenting on the quota files.
To Ray Kennedy for editing and useful comments.
To Sara Staino and Antonio Spinelli for moral support. And last but not least to Therese Pearce Laanela for inspiration, support and being the driving force behind the IDEA ACE topic areas.
2012 revision by Tim Baker.
