Muligheder og potentiale i valgreformer – eksempler fra Afrika

“First past the post is challenging the development of the democracy in many African countries” – There is a growing concern among democracy actors in many African countries that “the winner takes it all”- approach to elections is a serious obstacle to deeper and more sustainable democratic development.

The first past the post-system is considered to hamper efforts to move politics from being ethnically-based to being issue-based. Gender-balanced representation is difficult to achieve. Particularly new, small parties are struggling with this system.

Nevertheless, the first past the post-system can potentially provide a strong connection between a given local area and a MP. Moreover, changing the electoral system does not automatically lead to well-functioning democracies. Other factors have to be taken into account as well.

Against this background, the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP) and the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme (DLDP) are organising a public event on: The possibility and potential of electoral reform – examples from Africa.

The debate will bring together academics, politicians and civil society representatives.

The aims of this conference are:

To analyse the potential and challenges of electoral reform in Africa

To support actors in Africa who are trying to pursue the electoral reform agenda

To inspire strategies for advocacy for electoral reform

Speakers:

Oda van Cranenburgh, University of Leiden, the Netherlands

Frank Mukwanja, Executive Director of Centre for Multiparty Democracy Kenya

Jørgen Elklit, Aarhus University,Denmark

The conference is followed by a reception.

Participation is free.
Please register no later than Thursday November the 15th to Bent Nicolajsen at [email protected] or + 45 52 10 78 75.

The Danish co-organiser, Danish Liberal Democracy Programme is established by Venstre, the Liberal Party of Denmark with the aim to promote multiparty democracy in developming countries. DLDP is currently active in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa.