Hi Frances [Rosenbluth -- Moderator]. Thanks for your comment on expanded
suffrage in Japan and 19th century England. I agree that in both cases
factors made personalistic vote gathering less effective. But the question is
whether the factors in 19th century England and late 20th century Japan were
similar or not, i.e., was it socio-economic change that weakened personalistic
methods of vote gathering in both cases, or was it changes in the system and
"rules of the game" in elections [size of districts; number of candidates], some
combination of both? You're right that the consequences [declining effectiveness
of personalistic vote mobilization] were similar, but I'm not sure yet the
explanation of WHY these techniques became less effective is clear yet. Just a
thought.

Best, Ellis Krauss