University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Centre of Governance and Human Rights Events > CGHR Research Group: Presidential succession crises in Africa: lessons from South Africa and Namibia

CGHR Research Group: Presidential succession crises in Africa: lessons from South Africa and Namibia

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact ma665.

70 percent of African presidents who left office before 1989 were overthrown or assassinated. This pattern has changed since democratisation, as political parties dominate the processes by which presidents are chosen. Many African parties, however, split almost every time a change of leadership is effected. These ruptures have in turn caused electoral competition to intensify, governments to lose power and outbreaks of violence to occur. My paper asks: why do some succession crises lead to party fragmentation, whilst others do not? It involves comparative analysis of South Africa and Namibia, using original data gathered in the field. By describing the changing character of succession, developing a comparative approach to the study of these events and demonstrating a connection between autocratic leadership and party fragmentation, it makes a significant contribution to the democratisation literature.

Join the CGHR Mailing list: http://bit.ly/1DHlhkS

This talk is part of the Centre of Governance and Human Rights Events series.

Tell a friend about this talk:

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

 

© 2006-2024 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity