Preface

This is the first book to examine triggers of election violence in sub-Saharan Africa in comparative terms. This research contributes to the scarce literature on electoral violence by presenting a normative dimension and helping to prevent conflict, bridging the gap between data analysis and actual policy responses to electoral violence.

It is my hope that this research project will help to identify shortcomings and pave the way for further comparative work on issues that require more attention and reflection among practitioners and researchers. These issues might include the delimitation of constituency boundaries; registration of political parties, candidates, and voters; campaign regulation; the structure and composition of election management bodies; glitches in election preparations; and accountability for electoral offenses, among others. I believe that policymakers and practitioners can greatly benefit from comparative perspectives on electoral processes, as such perspectives can improve the design and implementation of international and regional approaches to democratisation and sustainable peace.

This research has profited from my own experience observing elections in sub-Saharan Africa. The study reflects my own views and does not represent the official positions of the observation missions in which I took part. Furthermore, in this book I have only divulged election observation findings that the observer groups had already made public. Therefore, I have not disclosed any confidential information about the missions that I may have obtained during my deployments in the field. Nonetheless, compliance with my confidentiality obligations as an observer has not precluded me from honestly conducting my research project, and I believe its findings reflect my commitment to independent research and moral integrity.

I wholeheartedly thank the Cornell Institute for African Development (IAD) for helping me to disseminate my research. Evangeline Ray’s support has been priceless, and Ashleigh Imus has done an amazing editing job. I want to extend my thanks to my friend and colleague, Emeritus Professor Tom Woodhouse, who read the first draft of the manuscript and provided constructive feedback. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Nicolas van de Walle, my friend Richard Barrett, and two anonymous reviewers who gave me extremely useful feedback and suggestions. Finally, I thank my parents and family, as well as my former colleagues from the John and Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS), for their encouragement and support.