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 development of democracy in Africa. The paper therefore identifies some critical challenges that are threatening the institutionalisation process of the parties. These include party funding and finance, party ideology, the dominant-party syndrome, ineffective civil society opposition and problems of fragile electoral institutions. The paper argues that though these problems are part of the wider socio-political and economic dilemmas inherent in Africa they are more pervasive and have a devastating affect on political parties as instruments of modern representative democracy. The paper thus contends that, given the main concerns and attributes of good governance, it is the only panacea that can wholly address the institutional problems of political parties as well as other structural and institutional obstacles to the development of sustainable democracy in Africa. Good governance is presumed here to be the ideal and pragmatic solution to such institutional obstacles.

Predatory Co-optation and Party System Reversal: A Behavioural Perspective on Zambian Political Parties

“…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.…”

“…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).…”

African Ruling Political Parties and the Making of ‘Authoritarian' Democracies: Extending the Frontiers of Social Justice in Nigeria

“…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.…”

“…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.…”