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 Periodical article |
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| Title: | Party systems in Africa: problems of categorising and explaining party systems |
| Authors: | Erdmann, Gero Basedau, Matthias |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Periodical: | Journal of Contemporary African Studies |
| Volume: | 26 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pages: | 241-258 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Subsaharan Africa |
| Subjects: | one-party systems multiparty systems electoral systems ethnicity |
| External link: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589000802332408 |
| Abstract: | Starting from controversial findings about the relationship between party systems and the prospects of democratic consolidation, this article argues that problems can only be properly addressed on the basis of a differentiated typology of party systems. Contradictory research results do not pose an 'African puzzle' but can be explained by different and inadequate approaches. The authors argue that a modified version of G. Sartori's typology of party systems provides an appropriate method for classifying African party systems. Based on Sartori's framework, a preponderance of predominant and dominant party systems is identified. This can be explained partly by the prevailing authoritarian nature of many multiparty regimes in Africa but not by electoral systems or the ethnic plurality of African societies. All kinds of electoral systems are connected to dominant party systems. High ethnic fragmentation does not automatically produce highly fragmented party systems. On the contrary, the high number of ethnic groups makes it necessary to form alliances - maximum ethnic elite coalition - in order to win elections. Hence, most parties are described as ethnic-based congress parties. Bibliogr, notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |
