African democratization: contextual factors and institutional choices

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Periodical article

Title:	African democratization: contextual factors and institutional choices
Author:	Cranenburgh, Oda van
Year:	1994
Periodical:	Leidschrift: historisch tijdschrift
Volume:	10
Issue:	2
Pages:	89-104
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Kenya Tanzania
Subjects:	democracy multiparty systems
External link:	https://hdl.handle.net/1887/72875
Abstract:	The formal requirement of multiparty elections is not sufficient to mark progress towards democratization in Africa. A narrow focus on multiparty elections obscures many, more fundamental issues, and implies unrealistic expectations regarding the success of reform. More substantive criteria need to be addressed such as whether multiparty competition makes any difference in the choices presented to citizens. What kind of opposition emerges? Is there any capacity to alternate in office or participate in government? In order to answer these questions, one has to examine the nature of civil societies in African countries, where a capacity to articulate and aggregate political demands must be present. Moreover, there are important institutional choices to be made on the road to democracy with respect to electoral systems and constitutional roles. The author argues that the reform agenda should be broadened to include reform of the electoral system and constitutional rules. In this article, these issues are developed with particular reference to two anglophone countries in East Africa: Kenya and Tanzania. Bibliogr., notes, ref.