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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Independent Candidature and the Electoral Process in Africa |
Author: | Ewumbue-Monono, Churchill |
Year: | 2006 |
Periodical: | Journal of African Elections |
Volume: | 5 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 74-99 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Africa |
Subjects: | elections politicians democratization Politics and Government |
Abstract: | Independent candidature has been a universal principle in the democratization process and has been a feature of African elections since the colonial period. This study reviews the participation of independent, non-partisan candidates in Africa. It examines the development of competitive elections on the continent between 1945 and 2005, a period which includes both decolonization and democratic transition elections. It also focuses on the participation of independent candidates in these elections at both legislative and presidential levels. It further analyses the place of independent candidature in the continent's future electoral processes. It suggests that to move the democratic process forward and include independent representation in elected bodies, African legislators and policymakers need to consider harmonizing the various electoral laws, assigning special roles to independent politicians and addressing their special needs, creating candidate-friendly electoral systems and promoting policy coordination within the African Union and regional economic communities in relation to such systems. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, edited] |