25.07.2013 Views

Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty

Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty

Political Parties in Africa: Challenges for Sustained Multiparty

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

International Idea<br />

It is difficult to argue that <strong>Africa</strong> can develop a unique party-based democracy that<br />

responds to its own political culture and position <strong>in</strong> the new context of development<br />

so long as it operates under the <strong>in</strong>fluence of such powerful global parliamentary<br />

and party-to-party democracy networks. However, <strong>Africa</strong>n party-based democracy,<br />

as this report demonstrates, has so far reta<strong>in</strong>ed some <strong>in</strong>stitutional arrangements<br />

<strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>med by <strong>Africa</strong>n levels of socio-economic development and the diverse political<br />

cultures, some of which imp<strong>in</strong>ge negatively on its overall democratic credentials.<br />

However, <strong>Africa</strong>n regional and sub-regional parliament-to-parliament associations<br />

are yet to develop <strong>in</strong>to party-to-party networks through which like-m<strong>in</strong>ded<br />

<strong>Africa</strong>n ideological approaches and similarities <strong>in</strong> economic development trends<br />

and experiences could develop <strong>in</strong>to genu<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>terdependence <strong>for</strong> foster<strong>in</strong>g peace<br />

and security, contribut<strong>in</strong>g to regional economic <strong>in</strong>tegration, and br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g these<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutions closer to the people.<br />

The relationship between party <strong>in</strong>ternationals and <strong>Africa</strong>n political parties and<br />

the way <strong>in</strong> which it affects party programmes and manifestos have not been well<br />

researched and require some serious attention. Here International IDEA’s Programme<br />

on Research and Dialogue with <strong>Political</strong> <strong>Parties</strong> could take a lead <strong>in</strong> order that ensure<br />

that this issue can be pursued further.<br />

<strong>Africa</strong>n Party and Electoral Systems

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!