Final answer:
Proportional representation is an electoral system where the number of seats parties or candidates receive is proportional to the number of votes they receive. It is considered more democratic because it allows for greater representation of diverse political opinions and encourages the formation of multiple parties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proportional representation is a electoral system in which the number of seats a party or candidate receives in a legislature is proportional to the number of votes they receive from the electorate. This means that parties that receive a larger percentage of the votes will have a larger share of seats, while parties with a smaller percentage of the votes will have a smaller share.
Proportional representation is considered more democratic in comparison to other Western-style democracies because it allows for greater representation of diverse political opinions and encourages the formation of multiple political parties.
For example, in a proportional representation system, if Party A receives 30% of the votes and Party B receives 20% of the votes, Party A would have a larger proportion of the seats than Party B. This ensures that parties with significant voter support are represented in government, even if they are not the majority party. In contrast, winner-take-all systems, like the one used in the United States, tend to lead to a two-party system where smaller parties have a harder time gaining representation.