Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Publication
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Garrison’ Democracy In Nigeria: The 2007 General Elections And The Prospects Of Democratic Consolidation, Shola J. Omotola
Garrison’ Democracy In Nigeria: The 2007 General Elections And The Prospects Of Democratic Consolidation, Shola J. Omotola
Shola J. Omotola Mr
This paper undertakes a critical analysis of the 2007 Nigeria’s general elections, with emphasis on the ‘garrison’ process and its implications for the consolidation of democracy. It is argued that garrisoned electoral processes represent a powerful source of democratic instability that can threaten the consolidation of democracy. The paper illustrates these processes and concludes that much will, however, depend on how ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ manage their successes and failures, respectively. The greatest threats to the consolidation of democracy in the aftermath of the garrisoned elections relate to the handling of post-election issues, especially election petitions, tribunals and court processes, by …
Latin America’S Left Turns: Beyond Good And Bad, Maxwell A. Cameron
Latin America’S Left Turns: Beyond Good And Bad, Maxwell A. Cameron
Maxwell Cameron
In rapid succession leftwing parties have been elected to government in some of the most important countries in the Latin American region. I challenge the view that there are two distinct variants of the left—one populist, the other social democratic—and argue that variation on the left reflects the diverse conditions under which these forces emerge and evolve. I outline common features shared by the left in Latin America; suggest how the concept of populism and analysis of social movements can help explain this variation; and show how the left’s commitment to egalitarianism, balancing markets, and, in some cases, appeals to …
El Giro A La Izquierda Frustrado En Peru: El Caso De Ollanta Humala, Maxwell A. Cameron
El Giro A La Izquierda Frustrado En Peru: El Caso De Ollanta Humala, Maxwell A. Cameron
Maxwell Cameron
The unexpected rise of radical nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala in the Peruvian general election of 2006 took many observers by surprise. This article analyzes the origin and nature of the Humala candidacy, evaluates whether his campaign capitalized on weaknesses in the party system, and the degree to which it reflected a repudiation of neoliberal policies, the state of democracy, or the performance of recent elected governments.
Democracy Without Parties? Political Parties And Regime Change In Fujimori’S Peru, Maxwell A. Cameron, Steven Levitsky
Democracy Without Parties? Political Parties And Regime Change In Fujimori’S Peru, Maxwell A. Cameron, Steven Levitsky
Maxwell Cameron
Political parties are critical to Latin American democracy. This was demonstrated in Peru, where an atomized, candidate-centered party system developed after Alberto Fujimori's 1992 presidential self-coup. Party system decomposition weakened the democratic opposition against an increasingly authoritarian regime. Since the regime collapsed in 2000, prospects for party rebuilding have been mixed. Structural changes, such as the growth of the informal sector and the spread of mass media technologies, have weakened politicians' incentive to build parties. Although these changes did not cause the collapse of the party system, they may inhibit its reconstruction.