Abstract
This chapter proposes the contingency theory of descriptive representation that bridges across several literatures and tests for the effect of four explanatory variables on local government responsiveness to minority interests. Scholars have defined government responsiveness broadly as change in public policy in response to constituent needs or demands. The chapter adopts descriptive representation to indicate the presence of minority representatives in decision-making bodies, and substantive representation, to connote the content of policy outputs that may be attributed to their presence. Strong party discipline is one of the defining characteristics of the British political system. Gianetti and Laver define party discipline as a 'top-down' phenomenon, the outcome of a strategic game played within the party in which rank and file members respond to rewards and punishments created by some internal decision-making regime. The chapter explores the role that representational styles of Muslim councillors have on local government responsiveness through case studies.Keywords: British political system; contingency theory of descriptive representation; Gianetti; government responsiveness; Laver; Muslim interests
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