Though unique among American cities, Cambridge is certainly not alone worldwide in choosing PR. Professor of Government Kenneth A. Shepsle says many of the newly formed republics in Eastern Europe have used a form of PR in their national elections.

While this system may increase equity, Shepsle says it tends to result in massive numbers of political parties.

For example, in the recent Polish elections under PR, 29 candidates were elected from nearly 250 political parties, Shepsle says.

PR may run awry in Eastern Europe, Shepsle says, particularly if parties fail to build consensus because of the relatively small proportion of votes needed to be elected.

"Many cooks prospectively spoiling the broth is PR's form of gridlock," Shepsle warns.

While Eastern Europe may be experiencing problems with PR, some Canadians are looking to the system in hopes that it can insure more equitable representation in the country's Parliament, Richie says.

"In the recent election, the party which got the second highest percentage of the vote won only 2 seats out of 295," Richie said.

A Minority Voice

Cambridge's system of PR was instituted primarily to ensure that minorities would have a voice in city government.

"The feeling, as I understand it at that time, was that [PR] would provide an opportunity for the minority groups in the city," Scheir says.

Of course, she is quick to point out that the city's demographics have changed since the 1940s. At that time, "minorities" would have referred to citizens associated with the universities, not to racial or ethnic minorities.

Still, all concerned agree that PR has increased diversity on the council.

City Council candidate Kathy Born says she thinks Cambridge's system not only increases minority representation but discourages negative campaigning.

"It affords special representation to groups with special interests," Born says, "They form their own voting block in order to win--in Cambridge you have to win on a slate or get knocked out."

Candidate John R. Pitkin, who is otherwise critical of Cambridge's political systems, says he thinks PR is an "effective" way to ensure minority representation.