Designing Democracy: Comparing Party Politics in Emerging Regions

Political parties are widely acknowledged as fundamentals of liberal democracy and are the accepted vehicles of communication between people and their systems of governance. They articulate their constituents' concerns and represent citizens at various levels of government. However, there are no guarantees that pluralism is a panacea for democratic deficits.

While many emerging democracies successfully establish the institutional frameworks for multiparty politics, they often fare less well on issues such as their responsibility to protect all citizens. A comparative examination of party political developments in emerging regions may yield valuable insights and creative ideas for enhancing the impact and reach of political parties, thus consolidating vibrant participatory democracies.

Edited by Ayesha Kajee and Lerato Mbele
SAIIA: 2007
ISBN: 1-919969-27-6
Pages: 134
Price: ZAR 80.00

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