The Politics of Ideas in India and Developing Democracies

2021 ◽  
pp. 227-257
Keyword(s):  
Developing Democracies

scholarly journals Presidential Tenure and Constitutional Provisions: Recent Evidence from Central Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 272-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Dawson ◽  
Daniel J. Young
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Term Limits ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Term Limit ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Constitutional Factor

Constitutions around Africa have been repeatedly tested on the issue of presidential term limits. We explore the four most recent cases of African presidents facing the end of their constitutionally mandated limit, all of which developed in Central Africa. Burundi, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all adopted constitutions limiting presidential tenure to two terms; yet, in 2015, when these limits were approaching, none of the sitting presidents simply stood down. Our analysis focuses on the constitutional provisions meant to protect the two-term limit, the strategies employed by each of the four presidents, and the difficulty they faced in pursuing extended tenure. We find that constitutional provisions do constrain, but not always to the expected degree. Our analysis adds a consideration of a foundational constitutional factor to the growing literature on term limits in Africa, with implications for other regions of newly developing democracies.

scholarly journals The Association between Social Capital and Voting Participation in Three Developing Democracies in Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Jack Chola Bwalya ◽  
Prasanth Sukumar
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
Voting Participation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Western Democracies

Numerous empirical research studies posit that social capital has a positive influence on peoples’ political participation. Studies conducted in developed western democracies have revealed that social capital strengthens democratic institutions by impacting both the quantity and quality of citizens’ political participation. However, in the developing democracies of Africa, the effects of social capital on political participation remain under-researched. This paper aims to empirically examine whether the interrelation between social capital and political participation holds true in the developing democracies of Africa. By operationalising the concept of social capital as membership in civic associations, this paper examines the influence of social capital on peoples’ voting participation in three Southern African countries, viz. Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. Using data from the sixth round of the Afrobarometer Survey, this study found that social capital was strongly linked to voting participation in these countries.

Diminished Parties

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
Party Organizations ◽  
Definition Of

Many contemporary party organizations are failing to fulfill their representational role in contemporary democracies. While political scientists tend to rely on a minimalist definition of political parties (groups of candidates that compete in elections), this volume argues that this misses how parties can differ not only in degree but also in kind. With a new typology of political parties, the authors provide a new analytical tool to address the role of political parties in democratic functioning and political representation. The empirical chapters apply the conceptual framework to analyze seventeen parties across Latin America. The authors are established scholars expert in comparative politics and in the cases included in the volume. The book sets an agenda for future research on parties and representation, and it will appeal to those concerned with the challenges of consolidating stable and programmatic party systems in developing democracies.

scholarly journals Should China’s Competition Model be Exported?: A Reply to Wendy Ng

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1431-1440
Author(s):  
Eleanor M Fox
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Competition Model ◽  
The State ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
Developing Democracies ◽  
Chinese Law ◽  
Chinese Characteristics ◽  
Alternative Vision ◽  
Good For ◽  
Laissez Faire

Abstract The Chinese competition model is primarily distinguished by its Chinese characteristics: a baseline that closely resembles US/EU law and an overlay of ‘state over market’ to do what is strategically good for China. Replying to Wendy Ng’s suggestion that the Chinese competition model might be usefully exported to developing countries, this article disagrees. The Chinese law does have some outstanding characteristics, and developing countries might need a state/market balance different from the laissez-faire West. But a more appropriate alternative vision for developing democracies is the state as enabler of the market rather than the state as controller of the market, along with emphasis on the inclusiveness value in controlling the power of the giant corporations.

scholarly journals Online News Media, Religious Identity and Their Influence on Gendered Politics: Observations from Malawi’s 2014 Elections

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-66
Author(s):  
Anthony M. Gunde
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
News Media ◽  
Religious Identity ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Online News ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Developing Democracies

The rise of the internet has offered the opportunity for the news media to communicate with audiences in many significant ways that may have profound consequences in the shaping of public opinion and transforming lives in the global sphere. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this article examines ways in which online news media could be used to reinforce gender stereotypes by promoting patriarchal religious beliefs and how this may have huge implications on women’s empowerment with regard to political leadership roles in developing democracies. The analysis is drawn from the 2014 Malawi elections, in which a major opposition party used a campaign slogan peppered with sexist religious and cultural connotations to ridicule and vote out of office southern Africa’s first ever female President – Joyce Banda and her People Party (PP). In May 2014, Malawi held national elections and the main contestants were former President Banda representing the PP, Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Mutharika and the DPP won the elections to wrestle away the presidency from Banda and her People’s Party. This article discusses the campaign slogan – Sesa Joyce Sesa – created by the DPP to attack former President Banda in which Malawi’s significant online news media sites played a critical role in the diffusion of the gendered campaign mantra to resonate with the religious identity of majority the electorate. The article reflects on the potential of new media to consolidate deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs that marginalise women for leadership positions and the effect this may have on bridging gender inequalities, particularly in political representation in developing democracies.

Leaving the Barracks: Military Coups in Developing Democracies

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1062-1103
Author(s):  
Lance Y. Hunter ◽  
Josh Rutland ◽  
Zachary King
Keyword(s):  
Developing Democracies
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