Electoral violence undermines democratic consolidation

The electoral process in Africa’s ‘new’ democracies, the fledgling democratic re-experiments under the so-called ‘third wave’ of democratisation has, with few exceptions, been characterised by violence. Though violence has been a long-standing feature of the democratisation process in Africa, its recent manifestations have assumed an unprecedented magnitude and a changing form and character. This electoral violence has tended to put the democratisation process on the line in many African states, threatening the prospects of democratic stability and consolidation.

• POLITICS
• elections