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Authoritarian stability across space: the case of Tanzania

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Abstract

The end of the Cold War witnessed the proliferation of competitive authoritarian regimes in the third world and more particularly in Africa. Levitsky and Way, the founders of the concept “competitive authoritarianism”, maintain that although elections have regularly been held, their typical feature remains a blending of competition with varying degrees of authoritarianism. Yet, in their competitive authoritarianism trajectories, the United Republic of Tanzania is considered stable authoritarian. This article advances two arguments: (a) Tanzania, as a union of two countries, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, exhibits a case where organisational party strength varies across territory, thereby affecting electoral competitiveness and manipulation by the ruling regime, and (b) as a consequence, Levitsky and Way do not effectively capture the linkage and leverage factors concerning Tanzania.

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Notes

  1. These are the smallest organs of the ruling party. They constitute 10 houses that are under one leader.

  2. A further 44,406 voters were registered to vote in the United Republic elections but not in Zanzibar elections.

  3. Reconciliation accord of 2001.

  4. Translation: “If you elect us, this country will be peaceful.” Tanzania Broadcasting Company (TBC1). News. 25.08.10 at 8.00 pm.

  5. [1996] T.L.R 156.

  6. See the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Media Monitoring Report of 2000 Elections, p. 66.

  7. See the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Tanzania Election Media Monitoring 2005 Report, pp. 3–4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Alexander B. Makulilo

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  1. Alexander B. Makulilo
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Correspondence to Alexander B. Makulilo.

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Makulilo, A. Authoritarian stability across space: the case of Tanzania. Z Vgl Polit Wiss 10 (Suppl 1), 173–190 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12286-015-0255-8

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