Arbeitspapier

Populist strategies in African democracies

Drawing on insights from Latin America, this paper examines the factors that contributed to the use of populist strategies by political parties during recent presidential elections in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. Specifically, the paper argues that the nature of party competition in Africa, combined with rapid urbanization and informalization of the labour force, provided a niche for populist leaders to espouse a message relevant to the region's growing urban poor. Simultaneously, such leaders employed ethno-linguistic appeals to mobilize a segment of rural voters who could form a minimum winning coalition in concert with the urban poor and thereby deliver sizeable electoral victories. While such strategies are similar to those used by Latin American populists, the paper highlights key contrasts as well. By combining cross-regional and sub-national perspectives, this paper therefore aims to contribute to a better understanding of how demographic and socioeconomic changes in Africa intersect with voting behaviour and political party development.

ISBN
978-92-9230-352-5
Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: WIDER Working Paper ; No. 2010/114

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
Thema
Africa
democratization
political parties
populism
urbanization
voting behaviour

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Resnick, Danielle
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
(wo)
Helsinki
(wann)
2010

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:42 MEZ

Datenpartner

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Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Resnick, Danielle
  • The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)

Entstanden

  • 2010

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