Umfang:
xii, 169 Seiten
,
Illustrationen, Karten
,
24 cm
Ausgabe:
First edition
ISBN:
9780198851073
,
0198851073
Serie:
Oxford studies in African politics and international relations
Inhalt:
How have African rulers responded to the introduction of democratic electoral competition? Despite the broadly negative picture painted by the prevailing focus on electoral fraud, clientelism, and ethnic conflict, the book argues that the full story is somewhat more promising. While these unfortunate practices may be widespread, African rulers also seek to win votes through the provision and distribution of public goods and services. The author's central argument is that in predominantly rural countries the introduction of competitive elections leads governments to implement pro-rural policies, in order to win the votes of the rural majority. As a result, across much of Africa the benefits of democratic electoral competition have accrued primarily in terms of rural development. This broad claim is supported by cross-national evidence, both from public opinion surveys and from individual level data on health and education outcomes. The argument's core assumptions about voting behavior are supported with quantitative evidence from Ghana, and qualitative historical evidence from Botswana presents further evidence for the underlying theoretical mechanism. Taken together, this body of evidence provides reasons to be optimistic about the operation of electoral accountability in Africa. African governments are responding to the accountability structures provided by electoral competition; in that sense, democracy in Africa is working.-- Back cover
Anmerkung:
Includes bibliographical references and index
,
Introduction
,
Elections and rural development
,
Urban incumbent hostility
,
Democracy's rural dividend
,
Microfoundations: voting for public goods in Ghana
,
Mechanisms: historical evidence from Botswana
,
Conclusion
Weitere Ausg.:
Erscheint auch als Online-Ausgabe Harding, Robin Rural democracy Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2020 ISBN 9780191885808
Sprache:
Englisch
Fachgebiete:
Politologie
Schlagwort(e):
Afrika
;
Wahl
DOI:
10.1093/oso/9780198851073.001.0001
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