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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Explaining electoral violence in Africa's 'new' democracies |
| Author: | Omotola, Shola |
| Year: | 2010 |
| Periodical: | African Journal on Conflict Resolution (ISSN 1562-6997) |
| Volume: | 10 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pages: | 51-73 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Africa |
| Subjects: | democratization political violence elections |
| External link: | https://www.accord.org.za/ajcr-issues/explaining-electoral-violence-in-africas-new-democracies/ |
| Abstract: | The electoral process in many of Africa's 'new' democracies has been characterized by violence. However, recent manifestations of electoral violence have assumed an unprecedented magnitude and changing form and character, with negative implications for democratic stability and consolidation. This paper analyses electoral violence in Africa, with emphasis on its manifestations, causes, implications and possible solutions. The paper argues that rising electoral violence in Africa is closely connected with the neopatrimonial character of the African State, the nature of contestation for power, the weak institutionalization of democratic architectures, including political parties and electoral management bodies (EMBs), and the political economy of electoral violence. This is complicated by the absence/paucity of democrats, with democratic mindset, to play the game of politics according to established rules. Worse still, avenues for democratic redress, including the judiciary and civil society, are also deeply implicated in the deepening contradictions of the state. The result is the deinstitutionalization of the people in the democratization process. Electoral violence is thus a major source of democratic instability with palpable threats of deconsolidation. These contradictions will have to be redressed. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |
