Reinforcing authoritarian rule: electoral politics in Angola

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Periodical article

Title:	Reinforcing authoritarian rule: electoral politics in Angola
Author:	Blaauw, Lesley
Year:	2014
Periodical:	Journal of African Elections (ISSN 1609-4700)
Volume:	13
Issue:	2
Pages:	122-136
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Angola
Subjects:	authoritarianism elections democracy
Abstract:	In the aftermath of the conclusion of the peace process in Angola in 1992, the Angolan government managed to establish formal democratic institutions. Foremost on the agenda was the decision to allow for multiparty elections. Yet the launch of electoral politics as part of the democratic landscape in Angola has not led to the development of a culture of tolerance and openness typical of democratic societies. On the contrary, the outbreak of a civil war following the disputed elections in 1992 gave the Angolan government the opportunity to revert to its authoritarian ways. The consequence of this reversal was that the elections of 2008 have not led to the entrenchment or the development of electoral democracy but rather to the reinforcement of electoral authoritarianism. This article posits that while the foundation for the evolution of electoral democracy has been laid, the Angolan government can, at best, be described as an electoral authoritarian state that reinforces its hegemony over Angolan society through electoral processes which do not conform to democratic practices. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract]