Executive dominance and the politics of quota representation in Uganda

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Executive dominance and the politics of quota representation in Uganda
Authors:	Muriaas, Ragnhild L. Wang, Vibeke
Year:	2012
Periodical:	Journal of Modern African Studies (ISSN 0022-278X)
Volume:	50
Issue:	2
Pages:	309-338
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Uganda
Subjects:	parliamentary representation electoral systems
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/41653703
Abstract:	Quota policies securing the presence of marginalized groups in decisionmaking bodies have been adopted across sub-Saharan Africa. These policies are frequently understood through the lens of a pluralist perspective. This stance is not appropriate in African regimes characterized by executive dominance. Through a qualitative study of official documents, newspaper articles and interviews conducted during two field studies in Uganda in 2005 and 2010, this article shows how the understanding of quota policies in Africa may gain from the corporatist debate on interest representation. The analysis reveals that the incumbent National Resistance Movement has employed the reserved seat policy strategically to maintain its dominant position, and that strategies for using the quota system have evolved gradually over time in response to key political events, and the interests of group activists at the local and national levels with vested interests in its survival. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]