Afrika-seminar: Fattigdom og politisk mobilisering i Zambia og Uganda

TIME: Thursday, 22 March, 15.15 – 17.00

VENUE: Centre of African Studies, Auditorium 12, Fourth Floor, Købmagergade 46, 1150 Copenhagen K

This seminar will address the interplay between the political setting of electoral authoritarianism and economic grievances expressed in particular by an urban poor electorate in Africa.

TIME: Thursday, 22 March, 15.15 – 17.00

VENUE: Centre of African Studies, Auditorium 12, Fourth Floor, Købmagergade 46, 1150 Copenhagen K

This seminar will address the interplay between the political setting of electoral authoritarianism and economic grievances expressed in particular by an urban poor electorate in Africa.

By drawing attention to two country cases, the presentation will show that the outcomes of this interplay have varied considerably across the region.

While opposition politicians in some countries such as Zambia (2011) have been able to channel the political discontent into electoral victories and subsequent electoral turnover, most electoral authoritarian regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa have managed to stay in power. Uganda is an example of this.

What may explain the variance found? And, following from this, are some forms of poverty more
challenging for the survival of electoral authoritarian regimes than others?

Lise Rakner is a Professor of Comparative Politics and the University of Bergen and a Senior Research Fellow at the Chr. Michelsen Institute. Her research interests cover the field of comparative democratization, with particular emphasis on human rights, elections and political parties in sub-Saharan Africa.

Rakner’s work also extends to political economy, with an emphasis on economic reforms, taxation, business associations, budget processes and aid effectiveness. In addition, she has conducted a number of governance assessment analyses for international agencies and donor governments.