Party proliferation and political contestation in Africa : Senegal in comparative perspective

This book analyzes several components of democratization and party competition in West Africa focusing on Senegal - a country with one of the longest histories of multiparty elections. It does so in service of examining the origins and consequences of the proliferation of political parties, a trend that has taken hold in Senegal and a variety of other African countries. The author uses novel sources of data to illuminate the economic and political roots of party functions and trajectories by placing party formation, opposition, ruling party loyalty, and presidential turnover into local and regional contexts. This work will appeal to African Studies scholars, professors, graduate students, and policy makers. Catherine Lena Kelly is an Advisor at the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative and a scholar-practitioner in Washington, DC, USA. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxv Introduction: Party Proliferation and Its Consequences in Senegal and Beyond (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 1-27 Theories of Party-Building: Africa, Competitive Authoritarianism, and Democracy (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 29-58 Party Formation and Proliferation on Senegal’s Uneven Playing Field (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 59-95 Negotiators or Adversaries? Tracing the Sources of Party Trajectories (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 97-136 Defeating Presidents from Within: Regime Insiders and Turnover in Senegal (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 137-172 Party Loyalty and Defection from the Ruling Party Under Proliferation (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 173-210 Conclusion and Notes on Comparative and Policy Perspectives on Party Proliferation in Africa (Catherine Lena Kelly)....Pages 211-230 Back Matter ....Pages 231-243