The 'Democraticness' of Multiparty Elections: Participation, Competition and Legitimacy in Africa
(2002) In Commonwealth and Comparative Politics 42(1). p.65-104- Abstract
- As the ‘third wave’ progressed it has been argued that democratisation should be analysed in terms of partial regimes rather than with multidimensional concepts of democracy. This article analyses the democratic qualities of one such partial regime, albeit arguably the core dimension of representative democracy: multiparty elections. The analysis focuses on the three basic democratic values of elections: participation, competition, and legitimacy. The empirical examination focuses on Africa and comparisons are made first, over time and second, between founding, second, third and following elections. The results, based on 203 observations of presidential and parliamentary elections, contradict the periodisation approach, and run contrary to... (More)
- As the ‘third wave’ progressed it has been argued that democratisation should be analysed in terms of partial regimes rather than with multidimensional concepts of democracy. This article analyses the democratic qualities of one such partial regime, albeit arguably the core dimension of representative democracy: multiparty elections. The analysis focuses on the three basic democratic values of elections: participation, competition, and legitimacy. The empirical examination focuses on Africa and comparisons are made first, over time and second, between founding, second, third and following elections. The results, based on 203 observations of presidential and parliamentary elections, contradict the periodisation approach, and run contrary to earlier findings in several respects. There is no trend of declining quality in recent elections held in Africa. With third elections the democratic quality increases significantly as all parties participate, the level of competition increases and the legitimacy of elections improves. Ultimate failure in the form of breakdowns into violent conflict or otherwise, typically occurs only after founding elections. In sum, the core institutions of representative democracy may have a future in Africa. Hence, there is a continuing case for demo-optimism on the continent. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/156324
- author
- Lindberg, Staffan I LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2002
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Politiska partier, Politik i tredje världen, Politisk makt och demokrati
- in
- Commonwealth and Comparative Politics
- volume
- 42
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 65 - 104
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- ISSN
- 1743-9094
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- facee140-716b-4e5d-9b81-223735fbd18e (old id 156324)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 16:43:32
- date last changed
- 2021-01-07 17:15:15
@article{facee140-716b-4e5d-9b81-223735fbd18e,
abstract = {{As the ‘third wave’ progressed it has been argued that democratisation should be analysed in terms of partial regimes rather than with multidimensional concepts of democracy. This article analyses the democratic qualities of one such partial regime, albeit arguably the core dimension of representative democracy: multiparty elections. The analysis focuses on the three basic democratic values of elections: participation, competition, and legitimacy. The empirical examination focuses on Africa and comparisons are made first, over time and second, between founding, second, third and following elections. The results, based on 203 observations of presidential and parliamentary elections, contradict the periodisation approach, and run contrary to earlier findings in several respects. There is no trend of declining quality in recent elections held in Africa. With third elections the democratic quality increases significantly as all parties participate, the level of competition increases and the legitimacy of elections improves. Ultimate failure in the form of breakdowns into violent conflict or otherwise, typically occurs only after founding elections. In sum, the core institutions of representative democracy may have a future in Africa. Hence, there is a continuing case for demo-optimism on the continent.}},
author = {{Lindberg, Staffan I}},
issn = {{1743-9094}},
keywords = {{Politiska partier; Politik i tredje världen; Politisk makt och demokrati}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{65--104}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Commonwealth and Comparative Politics}},
title = {{The 'Democraticness' of Multiparty Elections: Participation, Competition and Legitimacy in Africa}},
volume = {{42}},
year = {{2002}},
}