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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
Determinants of Voting Behaviour and Party Preference in Francophone Africa
| Panel |
83. Political Parties in Africa
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| Paper ID | 743 |
| Author(s) |
Basedau, Matthias ; Stroh, Alexander
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| Paper |
No paper submitted
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| Abstract | It seems to be conventional wisdom that ethnic cleavages primarily shape political party systems in sub-Saharan Africa. However, a recent study on voter alignment in Ghana (Lindberg) has posed a substantial challenge to this idea. Based on individual data the results suggest that rational choice and other variables may play a more important role in voting behaviour in Africa.
The paper engages in a preliminary study of the determinants of voting behaviour and party preferences in Francophone Africa in comparative perspective. Based on individual data of four representative survey polls in four West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) 'conducted in late 2006' the study takes the classical cleavage theory of Lipset and Rokkan as a starting point and tries to find evidence whether or not salient cleavages between different ethnic groups or between urban and rural segments of the population as well as possible post-transition-conflicts offer partial explanations for the patterns of party systems.
The paper then proceeds to the examination of other pertinent social and demographic characteristics such as age, social status and educational levels that are commonly part of micro-sociological explanations of voting behaviour. The paper will also put rational choice related issues to the test. Is there any evidence that the degree of satisfaction with living conditions and political performance plays a substantial role in the political party preferences?
Finally the paper highlights differences and similarities between the cases and draws conclusions for both theory and future research. |
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