Tag Archives: elections

Premature election fever and security challenges in Nigeria

By Zainab Usman | Published: 22 May 2013

In this blog, Zainab Usman highlights the importance of looking at the political context in which militia groups in Nigeria operate. As political contestation around the 2015 elections starts to grow, she asks what impact these various groups will have on the polls, and what the post-election environment might have in store for them. Zainab [...]

Posted in Nigeria | Also tagged African Democracy, boko haram, conflict, democracy in africa, militia groups, niger delta, nigeria | 1 Response

Madagascar’s recipe for pre-election volatility: Just add locusts, bandits, and predatory politicians

By Brian Klaas | Published: 15 May 2013

In this article, Brian Klaas takes a look at Madagascar, arguing that whilst nothing is certain in politics, there may well be trouble ahead. Brian Klaas is a D.Phil candidate at the University of Oxford, studying the relationship between elections and political violence.

Posted in Madagascar | Also tagged African politics, July elections, madagascar, politics in africa, Rajoelina, Ravalomanana | Leave a comment

Broadening the lens on Zimbabwe: a response to Simukai Tinhu

By SJ Cooper-Knock | Published: 28 April 2013

In this blog one of our co-editors, Sarah Jane Cooper-Knock, shares her thoughts on a recent article by Simukai Tinhu on the political landscape in Zimbabwe.

Posted in Zimbabwe | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy in africa, zimbabwe | 3 Responses

Central African Republic: more than just a series of coups.

By Carol Jean Gallo | Published: 21 April 2013

In the first of a two-part series, Carol Jean Gallo argues that we need to look beyond the image of CAR as a country dominated by a series of coups, and understand the complexities of its political history, and the factors shaping its political future. Carol Jean Gallo is a PhD candidate at the Department of [...]

Posted in Central African Republic | Also tagged CAR, CAR elections, central african republic, coups | Leave a comment

Powering democracy and growth? Exploring the links between electrification, mobile use, growth and democracy.

By Ben Armstrong | Published: 1 April 2013

In this fascinating article, Ben Armstrong explores the evidence around mobile usage and electrification to ask what implications developments in these two areas can have on a country’s democracy and GDP. Ben Armstrong is CEO at WellDone, an organization using mobile technology to collect and communicate critical infrastructure data.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy, democracy in africa, electricity, mobiles, power, voting | 2 Responses

What President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory means for Kenya in the next five years

By Dominic Burbidge | Published: 9 March 2013

The media, corruption and democracy in Africa

Following Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory, Dominic Burbidge gives us his opinions on what is next for Kenya in the next five years. Dominic is a DPhil candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. You can read his personal blog here.

Posted in Kenya | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy, democracy in africa, democracy in kenya, uhuru kenyatta | Leave a comment

Debating for peace: can Kenya’s TV debate lessen the chances of conflict at the polls?

By Tim Wigmore | Published: 26 February 2013

In this opinion piece, Tim Wigmore argues that the TV debate in Kenya could have increased the important of programmatic politics in the forthcoming election, and decreased the likelihood of violence at the polls, or after.

Posted in Kenya | Also tagged Africa, africa democracy, democracy, democracy in africa, electoral violence, kenya, TV debate | 3 Responses

Kenya: to the elections, and beyond. Part Two.

By Dominic Burbidge | Published: 10 February 2013

In the second of a two-part series on the run-up to the Kenyan elections, Dominic Burbidge takes a look at the alliances involved, their prospects for success and the meaning of these elections for the political future. Dominic is a DPhil candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. This [...]

Posted in Kenya | Also tagged Africa, African Democracy, democracy, democracy in africa, kenya, Kenyan Elections | Leave a comment

Kenya: to the election, and beyond. Part One.

By Dominic Burbidge | Published: 5 February 2013

With the elections drawing near in Kenya, Dominic Burbidge takes a look at the alliances involved, their prospects for success and the meaning of these elections for the political future. Dominic is a DPhil candidate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. This is the first in a two-part [...]

Posted in Kenya | Also tagged Africa, African Democracy, African elections, democracy, democracy in africa, Dominic Burbidge, elections in Kenya, Kenyan Elections | Leave a comment

Ghana in-depth: what next for democracy in the country?

By Nelson Oppong | Published: 11 December 2012

Following the declaration of John Dramani Mahama’s narrow victory, Nelson Oppong takes an in-depth look at elections and beyond in Ghana. He emphasises the need for change in the Electoral Commission’s approach to decision making, assesses the prospects for programmatic platforms and pragmatic politics in the country and asks whether the New Patriotic Party can [...]

Posted in Ghana, Uncategorized | Also tagged African Democracy, democracy in africa, electoral commission, ghana, NDC, Nelson Oppong, npp | 1 Response