Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa
Elections do not always advance democratisation, yet they can. We outline a democratisation-by-elections model according to which the opportunities for political change opened up by each electoral round build on previous election-related democratic progress. We focus on Nigeria, interpret the recent...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Africa Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/986 |
| _version_ | 1831839229492068352 |
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| author | Giovanni Carbone Andrea Cassani |
| author_facet | Giovanni Carbone Andrea Cassani |
| author_sort | Giovanni Carbone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elections do not always advance democratisation, yet they can. We outline a democratisation-by-elections model according to which the opportunities for political change opened up by each electoral round build on previous election-related democratic progress. We focus on Nigeria, interpret the recent executive turnover in light of previous elections, and set the country within the comparative context of Africa’s democratisation. Using a new Africa Leadership Change dataset, we use election-related events to examine the diverse routes that African regimes have taken since 1990. The analysis highlights two major syndromes: democratic stagnation and recession. In a sizeable group, however, the institutionalisation of democracy has been making gradual progress. While there is no predetermined way to advance democracy, the reiteration of elections can be instrumental in such advancement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:49:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12cce22f0d8541dfbbcbf02058555815 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1868-6869 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:49:46Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Africa Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-12cce22f0d8541dfbbcbf020585558152022-12-21T17:57:59ZengSAGE PublishingAfrica Spectrum1868-68692016-01-01513Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in AfricaGiovanni CarboneAndrea CassaniElections do not always advance democratisation, yet they can. We outline a democratisation-by-elections model according to which the opportunities for political change opened up by each electoral round build on previous election-related democratic progress. We focus on Nigeria, interpret the recent executive turnover in light of previous elections, and set the country within the comparative context of Africa’s democratisation. Using a new Africa Leadership Change dataset, we use election-related events to examine the diverse routes that African regimes have taken since 1990. The analysis highlights two major syndromes: democratic stagnation and recession. In a sizeable group, however, the institutionalisation of democracy has been making gradual progress. While there is no predetermined way to advance democracy, the reiteration of elections can be instrumental in such advancement.https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/986political science, area studiespolitical change, democratisation, national elections, comparative analysis320, 321, 324Africa, Nigeria1990-2015 |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Carbone Andrea Cassani Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa Africa Spectrum political science, area studies political change, democratisation, national elections, comparative analysis 320, 321, 324 Africa, Nigeria 1990-2015 |
| title | Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa |
| title_full | Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa |
| title_short | Nigeria and Democratic Progress by Elections in Africa |
| title_sort | nigeria and democratic progress by elections in africa |
| topic | political science, area studies political change, democratisation, national elections, comparative analysis 320, 321, 324 Africa, Nigeria 1990-2015 |
| url | https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/afsp/article/view/986 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giovannicarbone nigeriaanddemocraticprogressbyelectionsinafrica AT andreacassani nigeriaanddemocraticprogressbyelectionsinafrica |