The Conceptualization of Opposition Competitiveness and Its Significance for Dominant Party System Responsiveness

Abstract

This chapter shows that the third wave of democratization in Africa can be successful even if the government remains dominated by one major political party. A competitive opposition party (system) with some minimum amount of strength and institutionalization—even if too weak to take power—can be conducive to a higher quality of democracy. The chapter conceptualizes opposition competitiveness and illuminates how competitive opposition parties can push the dominant party system toward democratic consolidation. The quantitative analysis is based on 53 national parliamentary elections in 18 African dominant party systems between 1990 and 2008 that meet minimum freeness standards of party competition, that is, can be classified as electoral democracies or competitive authoritarian regimes at least.