The future of elections in Africa: Critical Issues and Perspectives
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Sociology
Abstract
The centrality of elections in democracy has been overemphasized. Huntington asserts that the institutionalization of elections is a sufficient step to bring and consolidate democracy. He argues that elections are not only the life of democracy but also the death of dictatorship. However, since the inauguration of democratization in 1990s, African countries have failed to sustain credible democratic institutions. Elections have remained a safety valve to legitimize authoritarian regimes. This article revisits how elections are managed in order to understand the trust of results and outcome. In specific terms, it focuses on four interrelated issues, that is, the independence of electoral management bodies, electoral fraud, boycotting elections and electoral violence.
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Citation
Makulilo, A.B & Rodrick, H (2017) The future of elections in Africa: Critical Issues and Perspectives, Tanzania Journal of Sociology, Vol. 2&3, pp. 103-115