2007
DOI: 10.20940/jae/2007/v6i1a3
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Contemporary African Political Parties: Institutionalisation for the Sustainability of Democracy

Abstract: Political parties are the custodians of democracy. Following the return of democracy to Africa during the 'third' and 'fourth' waves, political parties are undergoing structural changes (from military and one-party authoritarianism to liberal multiparty systems) for the development of sustainable democracy. This paper is not about institutionalised political parties or party systems, it is about understanding the historical development of political parties and their transformational nature in relation to the d… Show more

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Cited by 2 publications
(4 citation statements)
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“…Political parties constitute voluntary organisations of politically like-minded people whose main objective is to seek the election of their members to public office and ultimately influence public policy and governance (Kura, 2007). Debates exist about whether or not political parties are good for democracy.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…Political parties constitute voluntary organisations of politically like-minded people whose main objective is to seek the election of their members to public office and ultimately influence public policy and governance (Kura, 2007). Debates exist about whether or not political parties are good for democracy.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Randall (2007) alluded to this debate by hinting at one assertion that political parties might, in fact, hinder democratic consolidation (p. 633). However, many scholars have affirmed Schattschneider’s (1942) thesis: that in the absence of political parties, would be unattainable modern democracy (see Adejumobi and Kehinde, 2007; Burnell, 2004; Kuenzi and Lambright, 2001; Kura, 2007; Lam, 2010; Lipset, 2000; Lucardle, 2015; Omotola, 2010; Randall and Svåsand, 1999; Simutanyi, 2005; Stokes, 1999; Teorell, 1999). For Kura (2007), ‘even non-democratic regimes cannot do without political parties’ (p. 46).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…With the above simple conceptualisation of genuine (good) democracy and authoritarian democracies, it could be argued that irrespective of whatever the nature and quality of democracy, political parties are conditio sine qua non to its formation and existence. Put differently, political parties are central to whatever type of modern representative democracy (Kura 2007). In fact, no democracy in the world could be inaugurated without political parties.…”
Section: Introduction and Conceptual Issuesmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…If the state (government) is a central force in the provision of comprehensive social justice, this paper contends that ruling political parties are the super-force in the process of the provision of social justice. This is against the indispensable role of ruling parties in the formation of government, social mobilisation, political education and leadership recruitment, and importantly also in public and social policy making and implementation (Strøm & Müller 1999;Tordoff 1988;Salih 2003;Kura 2007). In this context, the character of democracy and/or ruling parties is a yardstick with which to measure the commitment and the extent to which a given political community and its institutions uphold and provide social justice.…”
Section: Introduction and Conceptual Issuesmentioning
confidence: 99%