CONDORCET METHODS Meaning and
Definition
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Condorcet methods refer to a class of voting systems that aim to determine the winner of an election by comparing each candidate to every other candidate in pairwise matchups. These methods are named after the French philosopher and mathematician, the Marquis de Condorcet. Condorcet methods are designed to ensure that the winner is the candidate who would defeat every other candidate in a one-on-one contest.
In a Condorcet election, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. The pairwise comparison is then conducted to determine which candidate would be chosen if only two candidates were pitted against each other. This process is repeated for every possible pair of candidates. If a single candidate consistently wins all of their pairwise matchups, they are declared the Condorcet winner and deemed the winner of the election.
However, it is possible that no Condorcet winner exists because of a phenomenon called "cyclical preferences." This occurs when there is no candidate who defeats all others in pairwise matchups. In such cases, additional rules are employed to determine the winner, such as the Smith/Minimax rule, which selects the candidate who loses by the smallest margin to their strongest rival.
Condorcet methods are notable for their ability to reduce the impact of strategic voting and tactical manipulation compared to other voting systems. They aim to provide a more fair and representative electoral outcome by considering the preferences of voters in relation to each candidate individually.
Etymology of CONDORCET METHODS
The term "Condorcet methods" is named after its creator, the Marquis de Condorcet (full name: Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas Caritat, Marquis of Condorcet). Condorcet was an 18th-century French mathematician, philosopher, and political scientist.
The usage of the term "Condorcet methods" originated from his work on voting theory and social choice theory. Condorcet introduced a voting method known as the Condorcet method, which aims to select the candidate that would win in a head-to-head comparison against every other candidate.
Since then, the term "Condorcet methods" has been used as a general term to refer to a collection of voting systems that share the same principle of determining the candidate who would win majority support in pairwise comparisons with other candidates. These methods are named after Condorcet in honor of his contribution to the field.
