Political participation and democratic consolidation in 2015 election

Project Abstract

Political participation plays a crucial role in the process of democratic consolidation. The 2015 election in [Country] serves as a significant case study for understanding the relationship between political participation and democratic consolidation. This research project aims to analyze the various forms of political participation observed during the 2015 election and their impact on democratic consolidation in [Country]. Using a mixed-methods approach, data will be collected through surveys, interviews, and analysis of election results and political discourse. The study will examine the levels of voter turnout, engagement in political campaigns, social media activism, and participation in civil society organizations to understand the extent and nature of political participation during the election period. Furthermore, the research will explore how different socio-economic and demographic factors influence political participation among various segments of the population. By analyzing the patterns of political participation across different groups, this study seeks to identify potential barriers to inclusive political engagement and democratic consolidation in [Country]. Moreover, the research project will investigate the role of political parties, media, and civil society in shaping political participation and its impact on the consolidation of democratic institutions. By examining the strategies used by different actors to mobilize voters and engage citizens in the political process, this study aims to provide insights into the dynamics of political participation and its implications for democratic governance. The findings of this research project are expected to contribute to the existing literature on political participation and democratic consolidation by providing a detailed analysis of the 2015 election in [Country]. By shedding light on the patterns and determinants of political participation in a specific context, this study will offer valuable insights for policymakers, civil society organizations, and scholars interested in promoting inclusive political engagement and strengthening democratic institutions. Overall, this research project seeks to enhance our understanding of the complex relationship between political participation and democratic consolidation, with implications for theory, policy, and practice in the field of democracy and governance.

Project Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p>Throughout the World today, political systems are undergoing qualitative transformation from authoritarian to participatory regimes. This worldwide trend, otherwise known as democratization (Elekwa, 2008:iv) has made the issue of election a critical political imperative. Election as a democratic practice refers to the system whereby the citizenry (organized as electorate) consciously choose people into civic roles through a competitive selection process (Raymond, 2000:164). International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences vol.5 defines election “as a procedure of aggregating preferences of a particular kind”. The two features of this definition are procedure and preferences. By procedure, the concept is used to describe a special way of doing something while preference connotes choice between alternatives. Election can also be described as a procedure that allows members of an organization, community or a nation to choose representatives who will hold positions of authority within it. According to Givinn and Norton, (1992) election is the formal process of selecting a person for public office or accepting or registering a political proposition by voting. They state further that an election is one of the means by which a society may organize itself and make specified formal decisions, adding that where voting is free, it acts simultaneously as a system for making certain decisions regarding the power relations in a society and as a method for seeking political obedience with a minimum of sacrifice of the individual‟s freedom.</p><p>The essence of a democratic election is a freedom of choice. During elections, the electorate is given the opportunity to choose between alternative programmes of contestants. Elections also promote public accountability. The threat of defeat at the polls exerts pressure on those in power to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and take account of popular interests and demands when they make their decisions. There is no one accepted procedure of election. In ancient Greece, various types of procedures were used. These include voting by show of hands, written votes and ballots. In the old Roman Republic, elections of principal officers were by a plurality of tribes. In the medieval church, the election of superiors was by a small electorate consisting of those next in rank. However, with the emergence of liberal democracy in the seventeenth and eighteenth century in Western Europe, the concept of election took new meaning anchored on the principles of consent franchise and representation.</p> <br><p></p>