Volume 4, Number 2

Elections are Not a Democracy Make

  Authors

BRIVERY Siamabele¹, Munalula Mulonda^2
1Pan African University, ²University of Zambia, Zambia

  Abstract

“Democracy” means “rule by the people.” However, this definition omits essential parts of the idea of democracy as practiced in many societies. The principal purposes for which people establish democratic government are; protection, promotion of their rights, interests, welfare. Meaning each individual be free to participate in society’s political self-government. Democracy is however characterized by a number of factors, one being holding of elections. Democracy has four key elements: a political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; active participation of the people as citizens, in politics, civic life; Protection of human rights of all citizens; a rule of law where laws, procedures apply equally to all citizens. Political scientists have argued that African elections are, in simple terms, windowdressing rituals with no real political meaning other than stuffing of the ballot boxes behind closed doors. The paper therefore, argues that ‘elections are not a democracy make’ in themselves.

  Keywords

Democracy, elections, rights, liberalism, constitutionalism