African Voters at the Polls: A Re-Examination of the Role of Elections in African Politics

In: The journal of Commonwealth and comparative politics, Band 17, Heft 2, S. 136-158

Abstract

Elections in Africa serve many more functions than commonly assumed. The 47 elections held in African countries between 1974 & 1978 may be divided into 5 functional types: (1) to maintain an established set of officeholders in an established system; (2) to permit a change of second-rung personnel or allow an ideological debate, with no change of government; (3) to present a real choice of officeholders; (4) to change institutions while keeping a particular set of officeholders in power; & (5) to establish a new regime by presenting the electorate with a real choice of leaders. The multiplicity of functions is expressed in the subjects of electoral debates, which range from immediate issues to basic components of the political order. The outcomes of elections bear little resemblance to these discussions, since no ballot can decide on the issues raised during election campaigns. The lack of consensus evident at election time can be rectified by providing for a truly representative type of political participation which may lead to more fruitful actions on the fundamentals of the political order. Appendix. Modified AA.