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Publication
Elections as vehicles for change? Explaining different outcomes of democratic performance and government alternation in Africa
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Does having more regular elections improve democratic performance in Africa? And
have elections transformed the patterns of alternation in government? To answer these
questions, two analyses are conducted drawing on an original dataset of 179 elections in
27 African countries, from the founding multiparty elections until 2019. The first tests
the effects of alternation in government on democratic performance and shows that while
alternation in government in the founding elections improves democratic performance,
opposition victories in subsequent elections do not produce democratic gains. The second
examines why alternation in government is more frequent in certain countries than in
others; and reveals that the odds of turnover are increased by alternation in government in
the founding elections, the level of political competition and the quality of elections. These
findings contribute to literature linking elections, democracy and turnover in Africa.
Description
Keywords
Africa Alternation in Government democratic transition political competition quality of elections
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Sanches, E. R., Macuane, J. J. (2019). Elections as vehicles for change? Explaining different outcomes of democratic performance and government alternation in Africa. Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, 38-2, 15-4
Publisher
Centro de Estudos Internacionais of the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL)