Assess graduate students' ability to analyze how electoral system design (e.g., plurality/majoritarian, proportional representation, mixed systems, district magnitude, electoral thresholds, ballot structure) affects party system fragmentation in emerging democracies; students should apply theoretical frameworks (Duverger's law, mechanical vs. psychological effects), interpret empirical measures (effective number of parties, fragmentation indices), evaluate comparative case evidence, and design or critique simple research strategies addressing endogeneity and context.