The first-past-the-post electoral system versus proportional representation in Africa : a comparative analysis (original) (raw)
2018
Electoral systems can be understood as a means by which popular votes can be converted into parliamentary seats on the basis of a scheme designed for this purpose by respective states. As specific contexts obviously vary, states are free to design an electoral system that best fits their particular realities. Designing an appropriate electoral system, however, essentially involves balancing its representativeness and accountability objectives. The purpose of this article is to investigate the salient features of the dominant electoral systems which are being practiced in major democracies of the world and identify a system that appropriately fits the Ethiopian context. Based on critical analysis of the majoritarian and proportional electoral systems and appraisal of the existing Ethiopia’s electoral system, it is argued that a Mixed Member Proportion (MMP) electoral system, which is an aspect of a mixed electoral system, best fits the Ethiopian situation as it can ensure representat...
The causes and consequences of electoral administrative reform in Africa
2013
that could not have been possible without the support and encouragement of family, friends and colleagues. While it would be difficult to mention everyone, I would like to briefly acknowledge those who were pivotal in the process. The chair of my doctoral dissertation, Michael Bratton, was a tireless supporter of the project since its inception. Not only was he convinced that my crazy idea of conducting fieldwork in four countries was doable but at every step of the process, he provided instructive comments on my work, invaluable advice and encouragement that made all the difference especially at times when I found myself on the verge of throwing in the towel. I am equally indebted to Eric Chang, Rita Edozie and Thomas Hammond who served as members of the dissertation committee provided constructive feedback and vital mentorship. I appreciatively acknowledge the support of other members of the MSU community. These include the faculty and staff within the Political Science Department, such as Carolyn Logan (and the Afrobarometer), Jeffery Conroy-Krutz, Steve Kautz, Karen Battin, Rhonda Burns and Sarah Krause. I was fortunate to have been surrounded by fellow graduate studentsTwyla
Elections and electoral processes in Africa: A gimmick or a curse?
African Journal of History and Culture, 2013
This paper seeks to highlight the controversial way elections have been held in some countries, which have led to the loss of confidence with the results, in some cases, the disputed elections has led to civil wars, rerun of the electoral process or the formation of coalitions. Election time on the African continent has therefore brought about anxiety to both the contesting political parties and the electorate. In the battle for political hegemony, pre-and post-electoral violence has become commonplace. But the most susceptible victims of the battle for political supremacy have been the electorate who are swayed left right and centre by completing political parties. The aftermath of most elections has left citizens licking their wounds as they take stock of the brunt of supporting whatever political party of their choice. To avoid outright defeat, most ruling political parties have been able to manipulate both the vote and state security machinery to their advantage. Legislation governing the conduct of free and fair elections has not been of much use either as it has also been manipulated. This paper explores the vagaries associated with elections on the African continent. The paper utilises available debates to support the argument of cases of flawed electoral processes on the African continent.
Elections and Democracy in Africa since 2000: An Update on the Pertinent Issues
2020
This paper first addresses elections and their importance for democracy. It then gives an overview of elections in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s, a decade that marked the end of the Cold War and ushered in what has been termed the "third wave of democracy" (Huntington 1991). Third, it hones in on elections in Africa since 2000, and highlights five major challenges for African elections in the present. Fourth, Ghana is used as an example of credible election management, with a focus on key requisites for free and fair elections that are acceptable to masses and elites. It nevertheless highlights some recent election management problems in Ghana. Finally, it shows the way forward to meaningful elections in Africa with eight recommendations.
The future of elections in Africa: Critical Issues and Perspectives
2018
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.
Africa: A Continent on the Edge, from Skewed Elections to Illiberal Democracies
International Journal of Social Science Research
The conduct of regular elections at pre-determined time is a hallmark of liberal democracy. Most African countries now conduct regular elections. However, it is generally agreed that liberal democracy is not measured only by the conduct of elections but by a consistent commitment to certain democratic and constitutional ethos. The practice of liberal democracy is a commitment to the rule of law, free, fair and credible elections, transparency and good governance among others. In Africa today, it is generally agreed that despite majority of the countries achieving democracies, bad governance, lack of development, inequalities, exacerbation of internal conflicts, and human suffering are pervasive. Scholars have argued that African countries have generally not enjoyed complete freedom despite the periodic conduct of seeming elections in many African countries. The practice of democracy in Africa has been characterized by hooliganism, banditry and citizen frustrations, leading some comm...
African Elections: Two Divergent Trends
Journal of Democracy, 2012
His research interests include the political economy of development, legislative development in Sub-Saharan Africa, citizen-leadership accountability mechanisms, and ethnic politics. When it comes to democracy and one of its major concomitantsalternation in power via competitive elections-Sub-Saharan Africa (henceforth Africa) has become a place of sharply diverging trends. Some countries in the region have experienced the continued consolidation of democracy and good governance, while others have not. Two elections that took place during the latter half of 2011 are instructive in this regard. On September 20, Zambians went to the polls and voted out incumbent president Rupiah Banda after three years in office (he was filling out the term of a deceased predecessor). Banda lost despite the tilt that he and his party-the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)-had given to the electoral playing field by misusing state resources and vastly outspending the opposition. After two failed attempts, veteran opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front (PF) finally emerged victorious to become Zambia's fifth president. Just over two weeks later and about 1,700 miles to the northwest, Cameroonians reelected their president of almost thirty years, Paul Biya, to yet another term-his sixth. According to Biya, he won the October 9 voting by a landslide of 78 percent. 1 Fraud charges were widespread. 2 These two elections are symptomatic of the divergent trends that are now affecting the prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa. In some countries, including Benin, Cape Verde, and Ghana, electoral democracy has brought political competition's positive effects, including responsive government, a wider scope for civil liberties, social justice, and the like. In others, however, including Nigeria and Zimbabwe, electoralism has yielded nothing more than what Paul Collier terms "democrazy." 3 While countries in the former group have witnessed
E-Bangi Journal of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Selangor, 2019
Election as a selection process for those that will represent the interest of the masses, need to be free, fair and credible. For an election to be credible, free and fair in which its result would be accepted by all, actors/stakeholders of the electoral process need to vigorously discharge their respective duties and obligation in the exercise. Evidence from the previous researches proved that Africa is having issues to conduct credible election. This study discovers that for Africa to have a credible election, players involved in the electoral process (such as the electoral bodies, the civil society, the judiciary, political parties, the mass media, and even the masses who are the electorates) are to be adequately cultured, orientated and given awareness on the beauty in discharging their role towards selection process of their leaders. Despitethe fact that, the voting behaviour of masses during an election tell more about the success of the system, but the actors or stakeholders involved in the electoral process can influence the level of voters' turnout in an election, by given the electorates regular orientation and awareness on the electoral system in the society. The study makes use of Morality-Implicit Theory to explain how the electoral process can be free and fair, if the actors involved in the process imbibed moral value and transparency in discharging their duties to the system without fear or favour. This study therefore is a qualitative in nature that employs the use of secondary source of data to explain the mechanism towards free, fair and credible election in Africa.