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The Politics of Party Coalitions in Africa

The Politics of Party Coalitions in Africa. Edited by Denis Kadima. Introduction: What? Where? Who? Why? How?. What ? Political party coalitions/alliances are increasingly a key feature of African politics. Yet, understudied subject. Subject of party coalitions/alliances is understudied.

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The Politics of Party Coalitions in Africa

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  1. The Politics of Party Coalitions in Africa Edited by Denis Kadima

  2. Introduction: What? Where? Who? Why? How? What? • Political party coalitions/alliances are increasingly a key feature of African politics. Yet, understudied subject. • Subject of party coalitions/alliances is understudied. • Aim of the study: to document, analyse, explain & compare party coalitions in selected African countries

  3. Introduction: What? Where? Who? Why? How? What? Definition of Coalition: • The coming together of a minimum of two political parties for a certain period, in pursuit of an agreed set of common goals to be reached by means of a common strategy, joint actions, the pooling of resources and the distribution of possible subsequent pay-offs. • The words ‘alliance’ and ‘coalition’ are used interchangeably.

  4. What? (continued) • Research questions: • What brings particular political parties together in a coalition? • How are negotiations conducted? • Who is entitled to negotiate? • What are the objectives of these coalitions? • How are coalition partners selected? • What is the legal basis of party alliances? • How does the electoral system in use in the various countries impact on the nature of party coalitions in those countries?

  5. What? (continued) Research Questions (continued): • What role do ethnicity, race, class and ideology play in the formation (and collapse and revival) of party alliances? • Who are the driving forces behind the alliances? • How are alliance relationships nurtured? • How does the coalition affect intra-party dynamics and vice-versa? • How does the process of selecting coalition candidates impact on women’s representation in Parliament? • What explains the longevity and effectiveness of some alliances while others fall apart or into desuetude? • What impact does coalition-related conflict have on intra-party dynamics? • What have been the consequences of particular alliances on individual political parties?

  6. Where? Who? Where? • The 5 countries under study are: Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique & South Africa • Criteria for selecting the 5 countries: • ≥ 2 general elections or referenda, • Presidential & parliamentary regimes • FPTP & PR systems • Financial constraints: 5 countries in east & southern Africa • 5 countries: a relatively representative sample Who? Co-authors: • Dr Roukaya Kassenally (Mauritius) • Mr Samson Lembani (Malawi) • Mr Zefanias Matsimbe (Mozambique) • Mr Felix Owuor (Kenya) • Mr Denis Kadima (South Africa)

  7. Why? How? Why? • To fill in the knowledge gap • To learn lessons & develop good practices for political parties • To contribute to the vibrancy of multiparty democracy in Africa How? • Primary sources: interviews with representatives of parties under study (serving head of state, ministers, MPs, party leaders and various analysts) • Secondary sources (articles and books): • History of party coalitions + MoU • Theories of party coalitions

  8. How? • Theories of Size and Ideology Office-driven theories and Policy-oriented theories • Theories of New Institutionalism • Institutional procedures shaping pre-formation (legislative negotiation) • Behavioural norms (pacts, anti-pacts & no coalition with anti-democratic or anti-system parties) • Institution shaping post-formation (decision-making within the coalition – VSPs, MSPs)

  9. How? How do these theories apply in the African context? • The theories apply unevenly from country to country • Predictive models tend to be of limited interest in many African countries • They pay limited attention to opposition coalitions in favour of executive coalitions • They barely address some dominant features of African politics (pervasiveness of ethno-regionalist politics; identity-based voting behaviour; prevalence of presidential regimes; limited opportunities outside state; inadequate institutionalisation of democracy; and structural & organisational weaknesses of parties • These theories need to be broadened to encompass these important features for them to be meaningful in African contexts

  10. How? Book Structure • Chapter 1: The Study of Party Coalitions in Africa: Importance, Scope, Theory and Research Methodology By Denis Kadima • Chapter 2: Party Coalitions in Post-Apartheid South Africa and their Impact on National Cohesion and Ideological Rapprochement By Denis Kadima • Chapter 3: The Formation, Collapse and Revival of Political Party Coalitions in Mauritius: Ethnic Logic and Calculation at Play By Denis Kadima and Roukaya Kasenally • Chapter 4: Making, Unmaking and Remaking Political Party Coalitions in Malawi: Explaining the Prevalence of Office-Seeking Behaviour By Denis Kadima and Samson Lembani

  11. How? Book Structure (continued) • Chapter 5: RENAMO União Eleitoral: Understanding the Longevity and Challenges of an Opposition Party Coalition in Mozambique By Denis Kadima and Zefanias Matsimbe • Chapter 6: The National Rainbow Coalition: Achievements and Challenges of Building and Sustaining a Broad-Based Political Party Coalition in Kenya By Denis Kadima and Felix Owuor • Chapter 7: African Party Alliances: Comparisons, Conclusions and Lessons • By Denis Kadima

  12. Findings, Conclusions and Lessons Factors Influencing the Formation, Survival, Effectiveness and Collapse of Coalitions • Types of Political Regimes • Types of Electoral Systems • Legislation • Ethno-linguistic and Regional Factor • The Ideology Factor • The Financial Security Factor • Personality of Leaders • Competition & Differences between Coalition Partners • Proximity of a general election • Inadequate Internal Democracy and Transparency • Coalition Agreement and Management Procedures

  13. Findings, Conclusions and Lessons Impact of Party Coalitions on the Political System • Nation-Building • Ideological Harmony • Party System • Political Parties • From provincial parties/leaders to national parties • Political risks • Excessive caution by SA parties (ID’s stance; ANC-DA at LG level) • Coalitions and Women’s Representation • Hypothesis • No strong correlation between party alliance and women’s political under-representation • 3 main factors influencing women’s representation (type of electoral system, party quota system, party leaders’ commitment) to gender • SA and Mozambique ↑ Kenya, Malawi and Mauritius↓

  14. Findings, Conclusions and Lessons Lessons Learnt and Good Party Coalition Practice • Legislation • Legal framework needed for a well-functioning multiparty system & to prevent abuse • Repeal of legal provisions weakening the party system • To avoid extreme regulation of coalitions as this could infringe on freedom of association. • Fairness • Not a mere ‘coalition of the willing’. Need for criteria for selecting pre-election alliance partners • Honesty and Mutual Trust • Conflict Management Mechanisms • Need to Involve the Constituents • Policy Dialogue • Need for an integrated policy platform

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