Consequences of Electoral Systems in Africa: A Preliminary Inquiry.
(2005) In Electoral Studies 24(1). p.41-64- Abstract
- Based on an original data set of elections in Africa, this article addresses the orthodoxy of theoretical hypotheses regarding the effects of electoral systems. While Africanists assume that context make a significant difference, the empirical analysis points to very similar effects of electoral institutions in Africa as in established democracies; regarding reductive effects, effects on the party system, governing capacity, competition and fairness of elections. Only the logic of accountability diverges from the theories of constitutional design. In addition, the empirical analysis seems to refute Sartori's argument that party systems must be structured before electoral systems can mature. Rather, the analysis of these emerging... (More)
- Based on an original data set of elections in Africa, this article addresses the orthodoxy of theoretical hypotheses regarding the effects of electoral systems. While Africanists assume that context make a significant difference, the empirical analysis points to very similar effects of electoral institutions in Africa as in established democracies; regarding reductive effects, effects on the party system, governing capacity, competition and fairness of elections. Only the logic of accountability diverges from the theories of constitutional design. In addition, the empirical analysis seems to refute Sartori's argument that party systems must be structured before electoral systems can mature. Rather, the analysis of these emerging democracies suggests that electoral systems play a role in structuring party systems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/156441
- author
- Lindberg, Staffan I LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Electoral systems, Elections, Africa, Democracy, Political parties
- in
- Electoral Studies
- volume
- 24
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 41 - 64
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000226351900003
- scopus:8744318287
- ISSN
- 1873-6890
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.electstud.2004.02.006
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- fdd8b345-5edd-411a-a173-77b6ee8e109d (old id 156441)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:52:24
- date last changed
- 2022-04-13 02:35:34
@article{fdd8b345-5edd-411a-a173-77b6ee8e109d, abstract = {{Based on an original data set of elections in Africa, this article addresses the orthodoxy of theoretical hypotheses regarding the effects of electoral systems. While Africanists assume that context make a significant difference, the empirical analysis points to very similar effects of electoral institutions in Africa as in established democracies; regarding reductive effects, effects on the party system, governing capacity, competition and fairness of elections. Only the logic of accountability diverges from the theories of constitutional design. In addition, the empirical analysis seems to refute Sartori's argument that party systems must be structured before electoral systems can mature. Rather, the analysis of these emerging democracies suggests that electoral systems play a role in structuring party systems.}}, author = {{Lindberg, Staffan I}}, issn = {{1873-6890}}, keywords = {{Electoral systems; Elections; Africa; Democracy; Political parties}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{1}}, pages = {{41--64}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, series = {{Electoral Studies}}, title = {{Consequences of Electoral Systems in Africa: A Preliminary Inquiry.}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2004.02.006}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.electstud.2004.02.006}}, volume = {{24}}, year = {{2005}}, }