African politics are often characterised by the cult of individual personalities and Mozambique and Ghana are not exceptions to this. However, successful democratisation needs to transcend individuals. How far do the party systems of Mozambique and Ghana contribute to the evolution of democratic development? This research paper, by the Development Research Centre based at the London School of Economics (LSE), examines Party System Institutionalisation and traces the evolution of democratic practices since their formal introduction in the early 1990’s. In both Mozambique, where a single party regime was in place for twenty years, and Ghana, with a long tradition of military involvement in politics, political parties have been instrumental in the emergence and stabilisation of pluralist politics.
In Mozambique and Ghana party politics has evolved although there are differences in the degree of institutionalism and openness between the four main parties. Renamo bears most resemblance to the stereotype of an African party as a personal faction and also is the least democratic and least regularised. Conversely, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not controlled by a single individual and has regularised procedures. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is somewhere in between and strives for openness whilst Frelimo is older and strongly institutionalised but highly centralised and oligarchic. Further conclusions are:
- Political parties evolved primarily from the elites’ urgent need for electoral vehicles, rather than, as is often the case in the West, through socio-economic struggles with state authority. However, the evolution is complex, for instance Renamo reflects acute socio-political conflicts.
- There is little political space for third parties or independents and a fine line exists between stability and repression.
- Geographical concentration is more regionally entrenched in Mozambique. Regionality and ethnicity has the potential to stifle effective electoral competition.
- Ghanaian parties are on the whole more open and balanced. There has been exchange in power between the NPP and the NDC. This can only strengthen Ghana’s chances of deepening a fragile democracy. In Mozambique Renamo stand little practical chance of power.
There are severe structural limitations to the development of political parties. However, especially in Ghana, some of the drawbacks associated with African party systems can be overcome. Political parties need to fulfil four dimensions of institutionalisation. These dimensions with policy pointers for successful democratic development are:
- Social and historical roots. For instance, Renamo gives voice to the grievances of traditional communities despite remaining entrenched in the personality cult of Dhlakama. Ghana reflects both the resilience of political traditions and the propensity for eclipse and replacement.
- Party organisation should be country wide and durable. An extreme level of institutionalisation may produce negative effects, but comparatively this is considered unlikely to be a problem.
- Electoral Stability. Efforts to provide stability for inter-party competition must be pursued. Although Frelimo opened the door to multiparty politics, Renamo stayed in the game and it must continue to do so.
- Party legitimacy. Reciprocal legitimacy is a bigger problem in Mozambique than in Ghana, due to the legacy of violent conflict, however Renamo is certainly seen as the party of opposition. There is a good level of legitimacy amongst Ghana’s political parties.
