Pretoria, International IDEA Africa Office, 5 March 2007– The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) released today its new publication on Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty Democracy in Johannesburg, South Africa.
With this publication, International IDEA intends to provoke and support an agenda for reform of political parties in Africa, to determine ways in which political parties can be assisted to become more responsive, representative and effective organizations in support of democracy and development.
The book compiles research and analysis of 75 political parties in 30 African countries, carried out from 2004 to 2006.
The book covers such topics such as the relationship between the electoral system and the party system, political competition, the representation of women, party coalitions, leadership succession and crisis politics and the funding of political parties and election campaigns.
Some of the key findings of the publications include:
- Most African countries use political parties in the narrow sense, as instruments developed by the elite for state capture.
- Progress on women’s participation in Parliament has not been matched by any increased influence of women in political parties, or by policy agendas reflecting many gender-related matters.
- African party systems are changing rapidly, with contradictory tendencies: one is towards fragmentation, towards the formation of regional, quasi-ethnic and religious parties. The other is towards dominant party and two-party systems.
- More efforts need to be made to find ways to curb domination by ruling parties through the abuse of state funds and resources.
- More research and case studies are needed on the funding of political parties.
The launch took place as part of the international Conference on Sustaining Africa’s Democratic Momentum, jointly held by International IDEA, the African Union Commission and the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty Democracy is part of a series of regional reports on political parties, published by International IDEA. A report on political parties in South Asia is also available.
Contact: Per Nordlund, Senior Porgramme Officer on political parties, tel.: +46 70 429 37 35, email: p.nordlund@idea.int
The Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty Democracy report is available in hard copy from International IDEA. The price is 14.95US$ plus postage. The report can also be downloaded, free of charge on International IDEA’s website.
For more information, visit International IDEA’s work on political parties.
Released by
International IDEA, Africa Office
H: 318 Lawley Street
Waterkloof
Pretoria 0181 South Africa
Tel.: 27 12 342 6988
E-mail admin@idea-sa.co.za website: www.idea.int
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IDEA is an intergovernmental organization based in Stockholm and supported by 24 member states from six continents: Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, The Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay. IDEA supports sustainable democracy worldwide by working with new and long-established democracies to develop and strengthen democratic institutions. The Institute operates at international, regional and national levels, working in partnership with a range of institutions.
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