%0 Journal Article
%T Electoral politics and democracy in Africa: A critical review of Lindberg¡¯s thesis
%A Christopher Appiah-Thompson
%J International Area Studies Review
%@ 2049-1123
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/2233865917745416
%X This article critically reviews, assesses and refines Lindberg¡¯s theoretical proposition that African states will become more democratic if they simply keep holding elections, irrespective of the degree of ¡®freeness and fairness of the elections¡¯, by using new empirical evidence from Ghana. Specifically, it highlights three fundamental challenges to Lindberg¡¯s thesis on theoretical, methodological and empirical grounds. To achieve the objectives of this article, first, a systematic and logical approach will be employed to assess the theoretical and methodological justifications underpinning Lindberg¡¯s argument and some contributions to the debate from his critics. Second, it introduces new empirical evidence from Ghana, which clearly ¡®deviates¡¯ from Lindberg¡¯s theoretical expectations in the long run, thus, calling for theoretical refinement and elaboration of the latter¡¯s initial thesis. Finally, it draws from the analysis some conclusions and implications for the study of democratization in Africa in the future
%K Democratization
%K elections
%K electoral politics
%K consolidation
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2233865917745416