How have African rulers responded to the introduction of democratic
electoral competition? Despite the broadly negative picture painted
by the prevailing focus on electoral fraud, clientelism, and ethnic
conflict, the book argues that the full story is somewhat more
promising. While these unfortunate practices may be widespread,
African rulers also seek to win votes through the provision and
distribution of public goods and services. The author's central
argument is that in predominantly rural countries the introduction
of competitive elections leads governments to implement pro-rural
policies, in order to win the votes of the rural majority. As a
result, across much of Africa the benefits of democratic electoral
competition have accrued primarily in terms of rural development.
This broad claim is supported by cross-national evidence, both from
public opinion surveys and from individual level data on health and
education outcomes. The argument's core assumptions about voting
behavior are supported with quantitative evidence from Ghana, and
qualitative historical evidence from Botswana presents further
evidence for the underlying theoretical mechanism. Taken together,
this body of evidence provides reasons to be optimistic about the
operation of electoral accountability in Africa. African
governments are responding to the accountability structures
provided by electoral competition; in that sense, democracy in
Africa is working. Oxford Studies in African Politics and
International Relations is a series for scholars and students
working on African politics and International Relations and related
disciplines. Volumes concentrate on contemporary developments in
African political science, political economy, and International
Relations, such as electoral politics, democratization,
decentralization, the political impact of natural resources, the
dynamics and consequences of conflict, and the nature of the
continent's engagement with the East and West. Comparative and
mixed methods work is particularly encouraged. Case studies are
welcomed but should demonstrate the broader theoretical and
empirical implications of the study and its wider relevance to
contemporary debates. The series focuses on sub-Saharan Africa,
although proposals that explain how the region engages with North
Africa and other parts of the world are of interest. Series
Editors: Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy and International
Development, University of Birmingham; Ricardo Soares de Oliveira,
Professor of the International Politics of Africa, University of
Oxford; Peace Medie, Senior Lecturer, School of Sociology,
Politics, and International Studies, University of Bristol.
General
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