Proportional representation in voting has had the greatest impact in which country?

Proportional representation has significantly transformed the electoral landscape in Israel. The country utilizes a pure proportional representation system, which allows for a diverse range of political parties to gain representation in the Knesset (Israel's parliament) based on the percentage of votes they receive. This system has led to a multiparty system where smaller parties have gained representation and influence, often resulting in coalition governments.

The impact of this voting system is evident in the political dynamics of Israel, where fragmented party landscapes necessitate alliances between differing political factions to form a government. This contrasts with other countries, where electoral systems may favor larger parties and create more stable, but less representative government structures.

In countries like Australia and New Zealand, while they employ proportional representation in certain contexts, they also have alternative voting systems that can dilute the effects of proportional representation, leading to different political environments. Ireland has also implemented proportional representation but has not experienced the same level of fragmentation attributable to this system as Israel has. This makes Israel the nation where proportional representation in voting has had the most profound impact.