Democracy, Representation, and Elite Recruitment in Africa

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

Since the broad re-introduction of multiparty politics on the African continent, much of the literature has focused on issues of inter-party competition. Research has particularly pondered the ways in which opposition parties have typically found themselves at an electoral disadvantage, while ruling parties have enjoyed great incumbent advantages. However, as elections in Africa have become increasingly competitive, as measured by opposition vote shares and electoral turnover rates, researchers have increasingly found interest in questions related to political representation and elite recruitment. Although national-level competition is increasing, voter choice remains curtailed in political systems characterized by elite-recycling and low representativeness. Women, youth, the economically disadvantaged, and people with disabilities have remained under-represented, while new research has suggested that increasingly expensive election campaigns have resulted in a further narrowing of the political elite. This panel focuses on how institutions and political economy shape political representation in Africa. Papers in the panel are particularly interested in issues related to internal party democracy, candidate selection, and campaign finance regulation. They also focus on the role of money in African election campaigns and the way in which electoral integrity affects the supply and demand for diverse sets of candidates.

Sub Unit

• Division 53: African Politics

Chair

• Ragnhild Louise Muriaas University of Bergen

Discussant

• Nicholas Kerr University of Florida

Individual Presentations

• Effects of Wealth, Handouts and Gender on Vote Choice in Malawi - Matthew K Gichohi, Chr. Michelsen Institute; Ragnhild Louise Muriaas, University of Bergen; Vibeke Wang, Chr. Michelsen Institute

• Partisanship, Gender, and the Structure of Politician Networks in Zambia - Leonardo R. Arriola, University of California, Berkeley; Danny Choi, Brown University; Justine Davis, University of Michigan; Melanie Lauren Phillips, University of California, Berkeley; Lise Rakner, University of Bergen

• The Political Consequences of Independent Candidates in South Africa - Itumeleng Makgetla, Yale University

• The Causes and Consequences of Manipulation of Party Primaries - Merete Bech Seeberg, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University