On Wednesday November 5th, the Walker Institute and Columbia World Affairs Council had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Emily Beaulieu for the Institute’s third Palmetto Forum this semester, titled “Making Punches Count: The Individual Logic of Legislative Brawls.” 

 

Her research focuses on analyzing legislative brawls, and her talk at last week’s Palmetto Forum focused specifically on Ukraine and Taiwan, two parliamentary democracies with similar styles of governance that both carry the highest frequency of physical brawls on the parliament floor.

 

In her talk she focused on how physical fights within parliament sessions are used as techniques to build recognition, awareness, and even respect for politicians depending on their situation. Politicians who are among the opposition group have motivation to use physical violence as a show of force in times of perceived weakness. On the other hand, politicians who are new or younger and feel disadvantaged compared to their more experienced counterparts may use physical violence to demonstrate power and authority, cementing their own presence and influence. 

 

Brawls in fact do not have to weaken a politician’s perceived stature. Parliamentary brawling is strategic in nature and is a way for politicians to stand out when they feel that they need to by taking a gamble on whether or not this strategy will work out in their favor. Dr. Beaulieu's research showcased that legislative brawls did in fact increase the chance of reelection for the politician, but they came with risks. Her researched showcased that while brawls are more common in younger democracies, violence has become a salient strategy even in further cemented democracies. 

Dr. Beaulieu’s ongoing research into this subject has brought a spotlight onto this fascinating topic, and we are thankful for the opportunity to share it with the Columbia community!