ARCHITECTONICS OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMS: FROM KANTIAN THEORY TO ELECTORAL ENGINEERING

The article introduces and theoretically substantiates the concept of "architectonics of the electoral system" as a hierarchically organized integrity of levels, modules and interfaces that ensure the transformation of electoral preferences into representation and power. The initial methodological guideline is the Kantian understanding of architectonics as the "art of building a system," that is, the principle that requires the consistency of parts and their subordination to a single idea. Unlike the common concepts of "architecture/design/engineering", the proposed approach shifts the focus from the enumeration of parameters to system communications and the logic of coupling elements. A multilevel model of the electoral system is substantiated. The proposed "architecture of the electoral system" allows us to consistently analyze the causes of discrepancies in the results of similar reforms, diagnose vulnerability nodes and coordinate the goals of representativeness, accountability, manageability and resistance to manipulation. The practical value of the approach lies in the formulation of principles of system design and assessment of electoral changes.