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Gender, Protests and Political Change in Africa pp 149–172Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Democratic Reversals in Burundi

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Part of the book series: Gender, Development and Social Change ((GDSC))

Abstract

This chapter offers an analysis of two parallel trends in Burundi’s convulsed politics: firstly, how electoral boycotts and the lack of participation in the governing institutions on behalf of the political opposition have contributed to democratic reversals and have reinforced political instability. Secondly, how the authoritarian tendencies of the ruling party lead to the same outcome by eroding democratic values. I argue that, democratic reversals in Burundi have been a result of anti-democratic decisions based on the absence of ideology, the failure to actively participate in political life, the authoritarian attitude of the leadership and the focus on power and wealth rather than on responding to the needs of the people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town, South Africa

    Patrick Hajayandi

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  1. Patrick Hajayandi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Gender Studies, SOAS, University of London, London, UK

    Awino Okech

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Hajayandi, P. (2020). Democratic Reversals in Burundi. In: Okech, A. (eds) Gender, Protests and Political Change in Africa. Gender, Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46343-4_8

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