How to Build a Democracy - led by Lindiwe Mazibuko

Description

WEEK FOUR: 13 October: “A Peaceful Change of Government”

Sign-up for Lindiwe Mazibuko's October 13th study group lottery featuring President Joyce Banda here.

During a democratic transition, a constitutional framework and free and fair elections are intended to facilitate peaceful transitions from repressive to democratic political dispensations.

But once democracy has been established, these should also be the means by which a smooth transition between democratic governments may also be facilitated.

What happens when these systems are not enough to enable such a transition? To what checks and balances do democratically-elected leaders and political parties have recourse when these systems have been captured by a ruling elite which refuses to give up power?

President Joyce Banda, Malawi’s first female president and former Vice President will discuss with us the 2012 effort by her country’s ruling party cabinet to block her accession to the presidency, following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

President Banda will detail how she overcame this deadlock with the aid of Malawi’s army, and discuss the broader implications of her experience and those other heads of state for democratic stability in Africa.

Guest Speaker: President Joyce Banda – First female President of Malawi. Former Vice-President of Malawi and founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation.

 

Room: Faculty Dining Room, HKS

***All study groups are off-the-record and not for media coverage***