From Dominant to Competitive Party System

Abstract

In this article we analyse the changes in the party system in Zambia in the period 1991 to 2001. Based on changes observed in terms of the number of parties, their relative size, ‘ideological distance’ and interaction patterns, we characterize the changes as movement from a dominant to a competitive party system after the 2001 elections. In the second part of the article we explain the changes and contend that the structure of political institutions in Zambia encouraged the formation of multiple parties. It is assumed that the development of a more competitive party system would ease the process of democratic consolidation by providing the electorate with electoral alternatives. However, as the emerging party system is fragmented, and several of the newly formed parties may be transient in character, it is doubtful whether these alternatives would contribute to improving democracy in Zambia.

The Zambian Resource Curse and its influence on Genuine Savings as an indicator for “weak” sustainable development

“…Democratic status and political rights increased in the 2000s, but civil liberties remained constant from the early 1990s onwards. Bratton et al (1999), Burnell (2001) or Rakner and Svasand (2004) show clearly that the status of Zambian democracy and political freedom of its population increased while civil liberties showed no improvements. However, compared to the critique of Zambian democracy in the 1990s, the Zambian democracy index values increased beginning with the election in 2001.…”

“…In the third consecutive elections, Levy Mwanawasa (Chiluba's vice-president between 1991 and 1994) achieved a close victory with only 29 % of the votes (Burnell 2002;Polity IV 2010;Larmer 2011). Although none of the eleven opposition parties presented a reasonable alternative to the MMD (Rakner 2003), their sheer number, relative size, differences in political direction and interactions demonstrated an ongoing movement from a dominant to a competitive party system with a more balanced and fragmented parliament (Rakner and Svasand 2004). In the first term of Mwanawasa, the government was forced to cooperate with the opposition, increasing the democratic status of the Zambian political system in the indices shown in Fig.…”

In search of the impact of international support for political parties in new democracies: Malawi and Zambia compared

“…Thus there have been increasing numbers of independent candidates: 21 (1991), 96 (1996), 84 (2001) and 156 in 2006. 65 While party representatives emphasized the need for bilateral funding, political parties in Zambia do not disclose information on other sources of funding. It is therefore impossible to assess the importance of NIMD funding in the total budget of parties.…”

Institutionalizing the pro-democracy movements: the case of Zambia's Movement for Multiparty Democracy

“…New party formations occurred after the 1996 elections as well. 38 In 2001 a host of new political parties were formed, many of them chaired by former members of the MMD National Executive Committee or Cabinet, including Zambian Republican Party (ZRP), Heritage Party (HP), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), and Patriotic Front (PF). By October 2001 33 political parties had registered.…”