Inside Electoral Democracy : Gift-Giving and Flaunting in Political Campaigning in Cameroon

Abstract

This article focuses on political electoral campaigning in a given town in Cameroon. The intention is to bring about a deeper understanding of the nature of 'democracy' and its implications for political power sharing and accountability in a given locality in Africa. Based on extensive field research, interviews and participative observation the empirical data gathered are analysed with references to recent academic approaches on democratic developments in Africa. The article discusses concrete ways politicians use to convince potential voters to vote for their party in relation to theories of gift-giving and symbolic capital. ; Postprint version of published article. Original available at URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0021909610373914