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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Role of Ethnicity in Multi-Party Politics in Malawi and Zambia
Author:Osei-Hwedie, BerthaISNI
Year:1998
Periodical:Journal of Contemporary African Studies
Volume:16
Issue:2
Period:July
Pages:227-247
Language:English
Geographic terms:Zambia
Malawi
Subjects:ethnicity
democracy
elections
Politics and Government
Ethnic and Race Relations
External links:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589009808729629
http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=44CEA64C02F6BF25BB00
Abstract:In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 many African countries experienced the (re)establishment of multiparty competition. As for Malawi and Zambia, both external and internal pressures contributed to this development. Zambia held its first multiparty elections in October 1991 and Malawi in May 1994. This paper describes how social divisions have gained prominence in Malawian and Zambian politics due to the need for coalitionbuilding based on patronage. In both countries ethnicity and regionalism have been instrumental in shaping electoral outcomes, cabinet formation, the functioning of political parties, mass perceptions of political issues and the prospects of political stability. These cleavages and the ensuing mistrust among groups make the consolidation of democracy difficult. The ruling parties are left in a delicate position as they lack popular support and legitimacy, while the opposition, exposed to the same forces, remains fragmented. Besides, factors like the privatization of the economy and the spread of corruption aggravate ethnic tensions. Only efforts directed towards more ethnic and regional equity would help facilitate the entrenchment of democracy. In both Malawi and Zambia steps are taken in this direction. Bibliogr.
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