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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Opposition party alliances and elections in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia
Author:Shale, VictorISNI
Year:2007
Periodical:Journal of African Elections
Volume:6
Issue:1
Pages:91-117
Language:English
Geographic terms:Botswana
Lesotho
Zambia
Subjects:opposition parties
elections
Abstract:The majority of the current ruling parties in the SADC region are very powerful, while opposition parties are fragmented and weak. However, a trend has developed for opposition parties to form alliances in order to play a meaningful role. This route has been followed by opposition parties in Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia. This paper discusses the reasons behind party coalescence and possible forms of political alliance in these three countries and highlights inter and intra-party relations before the most recent elections in each country, as well as the way each party performed in those elections. It also looks at the structures of the alliances and the considerations of the parties when forming the alliance. The paper concludes that in all three cases the decision to form alliances was prompted in the main by the parties' recognition of a common fate in so far as elections were concerned. Also, the choice of partner was based not so much on ideological, ethnic or historical considerations as on the prospect of victory through cooperation in the zero-sum political game. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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