Why Elections Need Parties : Managing Free and Fair Elections in Latin America and Africa

Trelles, Alejandro

Cambridge University Press（2026/08発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 240 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781009850322

Full Description

Why do some electoral commissions earn public trust while others collapse under pressure? Why Elections Need Parties offers a sharp and timely exploration of how democracies succeed or stumble at the ballot box. Drawing on more than a decade of fieldwork, elite interviews, and archival research across Latin America and Africa, Alejandro Trelles uncovers the institutional and political forces that determine whether electoral management bodies (EMBs) gain real autonomy or become vulnerable to manipulation. Trelles develops a new theory of partisan inclusion to show how party engagement, transparency, and accountability can strengthen, rather than weaken, electoral governance. Through vivid country cases and rich comparative analysis, this book demonstrates how institutional design, consultation mechanisms, and administrative practice shape election quality and democratic resilience.

Contents

Part I. Forging Electoral Autonomy in Latin America and Africa: 1. Introduction; 2. Pathways for building de facto electoral autonomy; 3. The politics of integrity: parties as the most effective watchdogs; Part II. Electoral Management in Latin America and Africa: Section 1. De facto electoral autonomy and partisan inclusion: 4. Mexico: the partisan check-and-balance system; 5. Ghana: developing trust through consultation; Section 2. Insulation without independence: 6. Venezuela: the gap between de jure and de facto autonomy; 7. Kenya: insulation and political unrest; 8. Conclusion.