The introduction of presidential term limits was one of the outcomes of the various negotiations that preceded the post-Cold War transition elections in Africa. With constitutional support for presidential term limits...The introduction of presidential term limits was one of the outcomes of the various negotiations that preceded the post-Cold War transition elections in Africa. With constitutional support for presidential term limits, which were often ratified in most African countries through a referendum, presidential term limits not only assumed a democratic principle, but were also expected to become both a ＂process and practice＂ in new African democracies.1 The constitution legitimizes term limits （years and tenures） as a democratic principle to regulate power and leadership transition within the context of democratic elections. Shinn （2009） argues that term limits for a country＇s most important political leader are an essential component of building democracy. Their importance adds value to the process, practice and constitutive feature of liberal democracy （Shinn, 2009）. Numerous studies show that presidential term limits are one of the most consistent predictors of power transition （Beetham, 1994; Linz, 1996a; Cheeseman, 2010）. Presidential term limits are also important in sustaining open-seat contests that ensure power alternation. However, this was not to be the case in African democratic experiment, where the process and practice of presidential term limits have become problematic. This paper focuses on how the removal of presidential term limits has worked against the consolidation of democracy in African post-Cold War democratic experiment, resulting in weak institutions, entrenchment and reconsolidation of power by long serving dictators, democratic hybridity and sometimes democratic reversal.展开更多
文摘The introduction of presidential term limits was one of the outcomes of the various negotiations that preceded the post-Cold War transition elections in Africa. With constitutional support for presidential term limits, which were often ratified in most African countries through a referendum, presidential term limits not only assumed a democratic principle, but were also expected to become both a ＂process and practice＂ in new African democracies.1 The constitution legitimizes term limits （years and tenures） as a democratic principle to regulate power and leadership transition within the context of democratic elections. Shinn （2009） argues that term limits for a country＇s most important political leader are an essential component of building democracy. Their importance adds value to the process, practice and constitutive feature of liberal democracy （Shinn, 2009）. Numerous studies show that presidential term limits are one of the most consistent predictors of power transition （Beetham, 1994; Linz, 1996a; Cheeseman, 2010）. Presidential term limits are also important in sustaining open-seat contests that ensure power alternation. However, this was not to be the case in African democratic experiment, where the process and practice of presidential term limits have become problematic. This paper focuses on how the removal of presidential term limits has worked against the consolidation of democracy in African post-Cold War democratic experiment, resulting in weak institutions, entrenchment and reconsolidation of power by long serving dictators, democratic hybridity and sometimes democratic reversal.
