非洲的政党政治:回顾与反思

Party Politics in Africa: A Critical Review and Reflection

自20世纪90年代初非洲国家全面实行多党制以来,非洲的政党政治发生了很大变化,呈现出许多新的阶段性特征。从当前非洲各国政党力量、政党与民族、政党与国家权力、政党与国家发展、政党与金钱、政党与领袖等方面来看,非洲政党政治体现出其内在与外在特征的发展变化。值得注意的是,非洲国家内部各政党力量对比格局是决定该国政党政治发展的重要变量。一般来说,一个强有力的政党长期执政,有助于消除政党民族化,有助于政党从长远角度制订和实施国家发展规划,有助于保持政策的连续性,进而有助于国家的平稳发展;反之,政党力量弱小、政权更替频繁的国家则可能导致政党发育不健康,政党和政客过于注重眼前利益,从而不利于国家长远发展。

Since adoption of multi- party system in the early 1990s, party politics in African continent has undergone great changes, exhibiting some periodic features. In this article, the author tries to review the general layout of party politics in the current African countries, and to interpret the relationship between political party and ethnicity, party and state power, party and national development, party and financial resources, party and political leaders. The author holds the view that the layout of party forces in a certain country is one of the most important factors affecting the development of party politics in Africa. Generally speaking, countries with strong and long serving ruling parties tend to better overcome the negative tendencies, such as ethno -politics and short- sightedness, and in a better position to formulate and implement long term development plans. Steady and smooth development can be achieved more easily in such countries. On the other hand, political parties in countries with fragmented political forces and frequent changes of government tend to focus on short term interest to the sacrifice of long term national development.